Validation of a Brazilian quantitative sensory testing (QST) device for the diagnosis of small fiber neuropathies

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria

Pedro Schestatsky²  Luciana Cadore Stefani¹  Paulo Roberto Sanches¹  Danton Pereira Da Silva Júnior¹  Iraci Lucena Silva Torres¹  Letizzia Dall-agnol¹  Luciane Fachin Balbinot¹  Wolnei Caumo¹ 

[1] ,Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre EMG Unit Neurology DepartmentPorto Alegre RS,Brazil

关键词: quantitative sensory testing;    validation;    nociceptive pathway;    psychophysics;    heat pain stimulation;    teste de quantificação sensitiva;    validação;    via nociceptiva;    estímulo termoalgésico;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0004-282X2011000700019

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

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 mm² 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.

【 授权许可】

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