Laser evoked potentials for assessing sensory neuropathy in human patients.
Sensory neuropathy usually impairs tactile sensations related to large myelinated afferents (Abeta) as well as thermal-pain sense related to small myelinated (Adelta) and unmyelinated (C) afferents. By selectively affecting large or small fibres, some sensory neuropathies may also provoke a dissociated sensory loss. Standard nerve conduction studies and somatosensory evoked potentials assess Abeta-fibre function only. Laser pulses selectively excite free nerve endings in the superficial skin layers and evoke Adelta-related brain potentials (LEPs). From earlier studies and new cases we collected data on 270 patients with sensory neuropathy. LEPs often disclosed subclinical dysfunction of Adelta fibres and proved a sensitive and reliable diagnostic tool for assessing small-fibre function in sensory neuropathy.
Truini
A
A
Department of Neurological Sciences, University 'La Sapienza', Viale Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Romaniello
A
A
Galeotti
F
F
Iannetti
G D
GD
Cruccu
G
G
D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D036421:Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology