title: Contact heat evoked potentials: normal values and use in small-fiber neuropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Contact heat evoked potentials (CHEPs) may be an objective, non-invasive diagnostic tool in small-fiber neuropathy (SFN). This study establishes normal CHEP values and examines their applicability in SFN patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standardized CHEPs were administered at the wrist and ankle. The N2 and P2 latencies and N2 -P2 peak-peak amplitude were recorded by electroencephalography. We examined healthy subjects (n = 97), stratified by age and gender, and SFN patients with abnormal intraepidermal nerve fiber density (n = 42). CHEP reproducibility and interobserver values were also investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CHEP normative values were determined. There was a 9-16% increase in latency per centimeter of height with increasing age. Amplitudes were higher in women than men, and decreased (17-71%) with aging. Test-retest reproducibility and interobserver values were >0.61 and >0.96, respectively. CHEPs were abnormal in 73.8% of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study we have established normal values, reliability, and clinical applicability of CHEPs in SFN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Physics, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lagerburg
authors.forename: Mayienne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bakkers
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bouwhuis
authors.forename: Janneke G J
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hoeijmakers
authors.forename: Arjen M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: Sofia J M
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Van Den Berg
authors.forename: Ineke
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hordijk-De Boer
authors.forename: Mardien D G
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Brouwer-Van Der Lee
authors.forename: Douwe
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kranendonk
authors.forename: Jos P H
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Reulen
authors.forename: Catharina G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.forename: Ingemar S J
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Merkies
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000842:Ankle; D004916:Erythromelalgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation*; D014953:Wrist
keywords: contact heat evoked potentials; polyneuropathy; quantitative sensory testing; reference values; small-fiber neuropathy