title: Infrared Thermal Analysis and Individual Differences in Skin Temperature Asymmetry in Rett Syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the feasibility of using a portable infrared thermal camera to quantify the degree of thermal dysregulation (cold hands/feet) and test for naturally occurring within-patient skin temperature asymmetry in Rett syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infrared thermal images were acquired passively from 15 patients (mean age = 13.7 years, range 4-47) with clinical diagnoses of Rett. Images were acquired using a FLIR T400 infrared thermal camera (still images recorded at 5 Hz, resolution of 320 × 240 pixels, thermal sensitivity = 0.05 °C; capture session lasted approximately 3 minutes). The infrared thermal camera was orthogonal to the body part (hands, feet) and positioned approximately 1 meter from the skin's surface.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were large intraindividual left/right differences in temperature. Seven (47%) and eight (53%) patients had statistically significant (P <0.05) left/right asymmetries between hands (mean difference = 0.87 °C, standard deviation = 1.21) and feet (mean difference = 1.73 °C, standard deviation = 3.03), respectively. Coders were reliable (intraclass correlations 0.97-0.99) on temperatures and selection of anatomical regions of interest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The degree of thermal asymmetry may reflect prolonged activity of the sympathetic nervous system and individual differences in sympathetic regulation. As clinical trials emerge and endpoints are considered, portable infrared thermal camera may provide one noninvasive means of evaluating changes in sympathetic regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Center for Neurobehavioral Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Electronic address: symon007@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Symons
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Center for Neurobehavioral Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Breanne
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Byiers
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Center for Neurobehavioral Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hoch
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dimian
authors.affiliation: Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, Saint Paul, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Chantel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barney
authors.affiliation: Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, Saint Paul, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Feyma
authors.affiliation: Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, Saint Paul, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beisang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000503:physiopathology; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015518:Rett Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Rett syndrome; infra-red thermal; peripheral asymmetry; skin temperature