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Temperature threshold testing: a systematic review |
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| Authors: | Mayienne Bakkers Catharina G Faber Martine J H Peters Jos P H Reulen Hessel Franssen Tanya Z Fischer Ingemar S J Merkies |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Neurology Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands;2. Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, , Maastricht, The Netherlands;3. Department of Neurophysiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, , Utrecht, The Netherlands;4. Neuroscience Global Clinical Research, Bristol‐Myers Squibb, , Wallingford, CT, USA;5. Department of Neurology and Center for Neuroscience and Regeneration Research, Yale University School of Medicine, , New Haven, CT, USA;6. Rehabilitation Research Center, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, , West Haven, CT, USA;7. Department of Neurology, Spaarne Hospital, , Hoofddorp, The Netherlands |
| 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. |
| Keywords: | quantitative sensory testing small fiber neuropathy temperature threshold testing |