Open AccessSensory Small Fiber Function Differentially Assessed with Diode Laser ( DL ) Quantitative Sensory Testing ( QST ) in Painful Neuropathy ( PN )
Author(s) -
MoellerBertram Tobias,
Schilling Jan M.,
Bačkonja Miroslav Misha,
Nemenov Michael I.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
pain medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.893
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1526-4637
pISSN - 1526-2375
DOI - 10.1111/pme.12049
Subject(s) - stimulation , sensory system , medicine , quantitative sensory testing , nerve fiber , peripheral neuropathy , sensory stimulation therapy , anesthesia , neuroscience , endocrinology , anatomy , psychology , diabetes mellitus
Sensory function of small peripheral nerve fiber was assessed by means of quantitative sensory testing ( QST ) during which sensory stimulation was provided using diode laser ( DL ) in patients suffering from painful neuropathy ( PN ) and compared with symptom‐free healthy controls ( HC ). Based on previous research work using DL stimulation, parameters that demonstrated safe and specific activation of A ‐delta, which were distinct from stimulation parameters for the activation of C ‐fibers, were utilized in this study. Results of this study demonstrated that this differential activation pointed to the impaired function of A ‐delta fibers while C ‐fiber function was unaffected. Stimulation of HC reproduced previously published results, and stimulation during this study was safe also without any dermal effect in patients with PN and in HC . Parameters used in this study were demonstrated in previous preclinical rodent study identical differential effect on activation of A ‐delta and C ‐fibers, and as such, DL is an ideal tool for translational pain research where specific activation of A ‐delta or C ‐fibers, or both, is required.