title: Temperature threshold testing: a systematic review.
abstract: The diagnosis of small fiber neuropathy (SFN) has been recently defined as typical symptoms due to small nerve fiber dysfunction accompanied by reduced intra-epidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) or abnormal temperature threshold testing (TTT). Guidelines have been published for the assessment of IENFD. However, international guidelines for TTT are lacking. This paper presents a systematic literature review on reported TTT methods and provides recommendations for its future use in studies evaluating patients. A total of 164 papers fulfilled pre-defined requirements and were selected for review. Over 15 types of instruments are currently being used with a variety of methodological approaches for location, stimulus application, and sensation qualities examined. Consensus is needed to standardize the use of TTT as a diagnostic and follow-up tool in patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mayienne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bakkers
authors.forename: Catharina G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.forename: Martine J H
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Jos P H
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Reulen
authors.forename: Hessel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Franssen
authors.forename: Tanya Z
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Ingemar S J
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Merkies
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature; D013697:Thermosensing / Q000502:physiology*