Illigens, BenGibbons, Christopher2013-10-172013Illigens, Ben M. W., and Christopher H. Gibbons. 2013. A human model of small fiber neuropathy to study wound healing. PLoS ONE 8(1): e54760.1932-6203http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:11180388The aim of this study was to develop a human model of acute wound healing that isolated the effects of small fiber neuropathy on the healing process. Twenty-five healthy subjects had the transient receptor vanilloid 1 agonist capsaicin and placebo creams topically applied to contralateral areas on the skin of the thigh for 48 hours. Subjects had shallow (1.2 millimeter) and deep (>3 millimeter) punch skin biopsies from each thigh on days 1 and 14. Biopsy wound healing was monitored photographically until closure. Intra-epidermal and sweat-gland nerve fiber densities were measured for each biopsy. Shallow wounds in capsaicin-treated sites healed more slowly than in placebo treated skin with biopsies taken on day 1 (P<0.001) and day 14 (P<0.001). Deep biopsies in the capsaicin and placebo areas healed at similar rates at both time points. Nerve fiber densities were reduced only in capsaicin treated regions (P<0.01). In conclusion, topical application of capsaicin causes a small fiber neuropathy and is associated with a delay in healing of shallow, but not deep wounds. This novel human model may prove valuable in the study of wound healing in patients with neuropathy.en-USMedicineAnatomy and PhysiologySkinSkin AnatomySkin PhysiologyDrugs and DevicesAdverse ReactionsDrug InformationNeurologyAutonomic Nervous SystemNeuromuscular DiseasesJournal Article2013-10-1710.1371/journal.pone.0054760