Validation of a Brazilian quantitative sensory testing (QST) device for the diagnosis of small fiber neuropathies.
Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is defined as the determination of thresholds for sensory perception under controlled stimulus. Our aim was to validate a new QST device for Brazilian sample. In 20 healthy adults, thermoalgesic thresholds were assessed using a QST prototype (Heat Pain Stimulator-1.1.10; Brazil). A 30 × 30 mm(2) thermode with a 1°C/s stimulus change rate were applied. Thresholds of three consecutive stimuli were averaged in two different sessions separated by at least two weeks. Additionally long thermal heat pain stimulus was performed. To evaluate the consistency of our method we also analyzed 11 patients with small fiber neuropathy. Results showed good reproducibility of thermal perception thresholds in normal individuals and plausible abnormal thresholds in patients. We conclude that our QST device is reliable when analyzing the nociceptive pathway in controls and patients.
Neurology Department, EMG Unit from Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre RS, Brazil. pedro.schestatsky@gmail.com
Pedro
P
Schestatsky
Luciana Cadore
LC
Stefani
Paulo Roberto
PR
Sanches
Danton Pereira da
DP
Silva Júnior
Iraci Lucena Silva
IL
Torres
Letizzia
L
Dall-Agnol
Luciane Fachin
LF
Balbinot
Wolnei
W
Caumo
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology*; D013697:Thermosensing / Q000502:physiology*