Temperature threshold testing: a systematic review
Author(s) -
Bakkers Mayienne,
Faber Catharina G.,
Peters Martine J. H.,
Reulen Jos P. H.,
Franssen Hessel,
Fischer Tanya Z.,
Merkies Ingemar S. J.
Publication year - 2013
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 - 10.1111/jns5.12001
Subject(s) - medicine , systematic review , nerve fiber , sensation , quantitative sensory testing , stimulus (psychology) , review article , intensive care medicine , medical physics , medline , pathology , neuroscience , psychology , biology , cognitive psychology , psychiatry , biochemistry , sensory system
Abstract The diagnosis of small fiber neuropathy ( SFN ) has been recently defined as typical symptoms due to small nerve fiber dysfunction accompanied by reduced intra‐epidermal nerve fiber density ( IENFD ) or abnormal temperature threshold testing ( TTT ). Guidelines have been published for the assessment of IENFD . However, international guidelines for TTT are lacking. This paper presents a systematic literature review on reported TTT methods and provides recommendations for its future use in studies evaluating patients. A total of 164 papers fulfilled pre‐defined requirements and were selected for review. Over 15 types of instruments are currently being used with a variety of methodological approaches for location, stimulus application, and sensation qualities examined. Consensus is needed to standardize the use of TTT as a diagnostic and follow‐up tool in patients.