Document Detail


Quantitative thermal sensory testing -- value of testing for both cold and warm sensation detection in evaluation of small fiber neuropathy.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16202822     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: Small fiber neuropathy is a common neurological disorder, often missed or ignored by physicians, since examination and routine nerve conduction studies are usually normal in this condition. Many methods including quantitative thermal sensory testing are currently being used for early detection of this condition, so as to enable timely investigation and treatment. This study was conducted to assess the yield of quantitative thermal sensory testing in diagnosis of small fiber neuropathy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included patients presenting with history suggestive of positive and/or negative sensory symptoms, with normal examination findings, clinically suggestive of small fiber neuropathy, with normal or minimally abnormal routine nerve conduction studies. These patients were subjected to quantitative thermal sensory testing using a Medoc TSA-II Neurosensory analyser at two sites and for two modalities. QST data were compared with those in 120 normal healthy controls. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (16 males, 9 females) with mean age 46.8+/-16.6 years (range: 21-75 years) were included in the study. The mean duration of symptoms was 1.6+/-1.6 years (range: 3 months-6 years). Eighteen patients (72%) had abnormal thresholds in at least one modality. Thermal thresholds were normal in 7 out of the 25 patients. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that quantitative thermal sensory testing is a fairly sensitive method for detection of small fiber neuropathy especially in patients with normal routine nerve conduction studies.
Authors:
Garima Shukla; Manvir Bhatia; Madhuri Behari
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Clinical neurology and neurosurgery     Volume:  107     ISSN:  0303-8467     ISO Abbreviation:  Clin Neurol Neurosurg     Publication Date:  2005 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2005-10-05     Completed Date:  2006-01-06     Revised Date:  2009-10-14    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7502039     Medline TA:  Clin Neurol Neurosurg     Country:  Netherlands    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  486-90     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India. garimashukla@hotmail.com
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Aged
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Nerve Fibers / physiology*
Neural Conduction / physiology
Paresthesia / diagnosis,  physiopathology
Peripheral Nerves / physiopathology
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / diagnosis*
Sensation Disorders / diagnosis*,  physiopathology
Sensory Thresholds / physiology
Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
Temperature
Thermoreceptors / physiology*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Central motor conduction in cervical dystonia with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
Next Document:  Factors influencing outcome in Guillain-Barré Syndrome: comparison of plasma adsorption against oth...