Infrared thermometry in the diagnosis of hand-arm vibration syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Clinicians need an accurate diagnostic test for hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).


OBJECTIVE
To validate a simple thermometric method to diagnose HAVS-related Raynaud's phenomenon.


METHODS
Fifteen workers with photographically confirmed HAVS-related Raynaud's phenomenon were compared to controls without Raynaud's phenomenon and an occupational history of hand-arm vibration exposure. Digit temperatures were measured using an infrared thermometer before and after immersion in 5 degrees C water for 1 min.


RESULTS
The HAVS patients differed significantly from the controls in terms of baseline temperature, rewarming time and rate. The fingertip-base temperature gradient was more commonly positive among the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The test method evaluated in this study is simple, cheap and accurate. If the pre-test probability is at least 35%, the best test variable to confirm the diagnosis of HAVS-related Raynaud's phenomenon is the time to rewarm to baseline of the first three fingertips providing the interval is > or =8-9 min.
Youakim
S
S
Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. syouakim@telusplanet.net
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply; D053421:Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D013817:Thermography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors