Familial burning feet syndrome inherited as an autosomal dominant trait has been described in only one family. Due to an associated sensory neuropathy the autosomal dominant burning feet syndrome was suggested to represent a variant form of hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type I (HSAN I). Clinical, histopathological, and molecular genetic studies were performed in a large German kindred with autosomal dominant burning feet syndrome. The autosomal dominant burning feet syndrome was associated with a neuropathy predominantly affecting small unmyelinated nerve fibres. Linkage to the HSAN I locus on chromosome 9q22 and to the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2B (CMT 2B) locus on chromosome 3q13-q22 was excluded. The autosomal dominant burning feet syndrome is neither allelic to HSAN I nor to CMT 2B and thus represents a distinct genetic entity.