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Vibration Perception Thresholds: Comparison Of Case IV And Neurothesiometer Measurements
Author(s) -
Bril V,
Perkins Ba
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of the peripheral nervous system
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1529-8027
pISSN - 1085-9489
DOI - 10.1046/j.1529-8027.2000.005003180.x
Subject(s) - sural nerve , medicine , nerve conduction velocity , f wave , audiology , diabetes mellitus , dorsum , surgery , anatomy , endocrinology
Purpose: Vibration perception thresholds (VPT) are used frequently to assess somatosensory pathways in clinical trials. Different equipment, testing paradigms, and stimulation sites produce varying results which make comparisons between trials and patient populations challenging. Information comparing the VPT obtained with the Neurothesiometer to that with the Vibratron is available, but not for a similar comparison with the CASE IV 1 . Methods: 478 subjects including reference, non‐neuropathic subjects with diabetes mellitus (DM), and diabetic patients with mild, moderate and severe neuropathy had VPT measured with the CASE IV and Neurothesiometer, as well as the criterion standard sural nerve conduction studies all on the same day. The dorsum of the foot was stimulated for the CASE IV determination and the distal phalanx of the first toe for the Neurothesiometer. Results: VPT by the CASE IV correlate with the Neurothesiometer values (R 2 = 0.547, p < 0.0001). VPT determined by both Neurothesiometer and CASE IV correlate with the sural nerve amplitude (R 2 = 0.456 and 0.461, P < 0.0001 for both). Conclusions: Results demonstrate a significant correlation of VPT values obtained by the two methods. Similar correlations between VPT and electrophysiological parameters are observed indicating that both methods are valid, and thus the Neurothesiometer is favored due to the ease and rapidity of testing by this method. 1 Bril V, Kojic J, Ngo M, Clark K. (1997). Comparison of the Neurothesiometer and Vibratron in Measuring Vibration Perception Threshold and Relationship to Nerve Conduction Studies. Diabetes Care, 20:1360–1362.