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Thermal threshold determination in alcoholic polyneuropathy: an improvement of diagnosis
Author(s) -
Hilz M. J.,
Zimmermann P.,
Claus D.,
Neundorfer B.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1995.tb07026.x
Subject(s) - sural nerve , polyneuropathy , medicine , nerve conduction velocity , incidence (geometry) , surgery , mathematics , geometry
Reports on the incidence of alcoholic polyneuropathies are variable depending on diagnostic tools. In this study, 50 chronic alcoholics with positive MALT (Munich Alcoholism Test) and greater than seven years history of excessive alcohol abuse were examined neurologically. Tibial and peroneal motor and sural nerve conduction velocities (NCV) were studied. Warm and cold perception was evaluated in the area behind the internal malleolus using a Somedic‐Thermotest. Thresholds were determined by the method of limits. The effect of a slow, medium and fast temperature change rate on thermal perception was tested. Thirty‐eight patients (76%) showed signs of neuropathy. Thermal perception was more often abnormal (62%) than NCV (42%) and clinical examination (56%). A medium temperature change rate of 2.0–2.5°C/s was the most sensitive index of small fiber neuropathy. Thermal threshold measurement proved to be a reliable, sensitive and easy to perform method that should become standard in the examination of polyneuropathies.