Paula Barreras, MD, neuroimmunology fellow at Johns Hopkins Hospital, was one of the first recipients of the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy’s (FPN) Clinical Research Training Scholarships (CRTS). Through these awards, FPN is supporting early-career researchers in peripheral neuropathy.
Did you know that about 40% of people with sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease, also experience a nerve condition called small fiber neuropathy (SFN)? This condition can cause pain, fatigue, and other symptoms that reduce quality of life. Dr. Paula Barreras is diving deep into understanding the connection between sarcoidosis and SFN through her groundbreaking research.
What is Dr. Barreras studying?
Dr. Barreras’s research focuses on three key goals:
- Understanding Inflammation in SFN
Dr. Barreras is studying whether inflammation linked to sarcoidosis plays a role in causing SFN. To do this, she’s looking at specific markers in the blood that indicate inflammation and nerve damage. While the approval process for her study protocol is taking longer than expected, she’s made progress by planning experiments and gathering necessary materials. - Examining Skin Changes in SFN
Using skin biopsies, Dr. Barreras is analyzing how SFN affects nerve fibers. So far, her team has reviewed biopsies from 48 patients and found that many had reduced nerve density and other changes, like swelling and damage to nerve endings. These findings help paint a clearer picture of how SFN impacts the body. - Predicting Outcomes for Patients with SFN
The final part of Dr. Barreras’s research looks at how different factors—like inflammation levels, nerve damage markers, and clinical symptoms—affect the severity of SFN and patient outcomes. Her early findings suggest that some patients respond well to immune-based treatments, particularly those without diabetes.
Challenges and progress
Like many researchers, Dr. Barreras has faced challenges, including delays in approval processes and adjusting to a new research institution. Despite these hurdles, she’s achieved significant milestones, including collecting data from 48 patients and presenting her findings at major medical conferences.
What’s next?
In the coming year, Dr. Barreras plans to recruit more patients for blood tests, complete her analysis of inflammatory markers, and finalize protocols for her experiments. These efforts aim to uncover whether immune therapies could provide lasting relief for patients with sarcoidosis-associated SFN.
Why does this matter?
For people living with sarcoidosis and SFN, this research offers hope for better understanding, diagnosis, and treatment options. By uncovering the root causes of SFN, Dr. Barreras’s work could lead to more effective therapies and improved quality of life for patients.
Stay tuned through FPN for more updates as Dr. Barreras continues her important work in the fight against sarcoidosis and small fiber neuropathy!