Double peak sensory responses: effects of capsaicin |
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Authors: | I Aprile P Tonali E Stalberg E Di Stasio P Caliandro M Foschini G Vergili L Padua |
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Institution: | (1) Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Via Maresciallo Caviglia 30, I-00194 Rome, Italy;(2) Institute of Neurology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy;(3) Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Uppsala, Sweden;(4) Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy |
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Abstract: | The aim of this study is to verify whether degeneration of skin receptors or intradermal nerve endings by topical application
of capsaicin modifies the double peak response obtained by submaximal anodal stimulation. Five healthy volunteers topically
applied capsaicin to the finger-tip of digit III (on the distal phalanx) four times daily for 4–5 weeks. Before and after
local capsaicin applications, we studied the following electrophysiological findings: compound sensory action potential (CSAP),
double peak response, sensory threshold and double peak stimulus intensity. Local capsaicin application causes disappearance
or decrease of the second component of the double peak, which gradually increases after the suspension of capsaicin. Conversely,
no significant differences were observed for CSAP, sensory threshold and double peak stimulus intensity. This study suggests
that the second component of the double peak may be a diagnostic tool suitable to show an impairment of the extreme segments
of sensory nerve fibres in distal sensory axonopathy in the early stages of damage, when receptors or skin nerve endings are
impaired but undetectable by standard nerve conduction studies. |
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Keywords: | Capsaicin Neuropathy Neurophysiology Skin nerve endings Double peak |
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