[Determination of reference temperatures for a cold test in digital plethysmography].
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to determine optimal warm and cold temperatures for performance of a cold test.


METHODS
Thirty-six healthy volunteers (22 women and 14 men; mean age 40, 94 years, range: 20-58) were included in the study. Plethysmographic signal amplitudes were evaluated at different temperatures (47, 45, 43, 40, 35, 20, 15, 13, 11 and 9 degrees C) under standardized conditions, using digital strain-gauge plethysmographic (Perivein Janssen). Reproducibility was assessed by repetition in the same subject of six digital plethysmography signal measurements at 45 degrees C performed at different times and days. Clinical tolerance was estimated according to an analogue scale.


RESULTS
Maximal warm amplitude was obtained at 45 degrees C and maximal vasoconstriction at 13 degrees C. The thermal test was well tolerated for the temperature range between 11 and 45 degrees C. Reproducibility of the measurements was satisfactory.


CONCLUSIONS
45 degrees C is the non-nociceptive reproducible vasoparalyzing reference temperature, allowing measurement of maximal digital circulatory capacities. 11 degrees C should be adopted as the optimal vasoconstriction temperature for performance of a cold test.
Pistorius
M A
MA
Service de Médecine Interne, Hôtel-Dieu, Nantes.
Briant
C
C
Planchon
B
B
D000328:Adult; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010991:Plethysmography; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
Détermination des températures de référence pour un test au froid par pléthysmographie digitale.