Abstract
Background: Contact heat evoked potentials (CHEPs) is used to diagnose small fiber neuropathy (SFN). We established the normal values of CHEPs parameters in Chinese adults, optimized the test technique, and determined its reproducibility.Methods: We recruited 151 healthy adults (80 men; mean age, 37 ± 14 years). CHEPs was performed on the right forearm to determine the optimal number of stimuli, and then conducted at different sites to establish normal values, determine the effects of demographic characteristics and baseline temperature, and assess the short- (30 min) and long-term (1 year) reproducibility. N2 latency/height varied with age and sex, while P2 latency/height and N2–P2 amplitude varied with age. The optimal number of stimuli was three.Results: N2 latency/height (t = 5.45, P < 0.001) and P2 latency/height (χ2 = −4.06, P < 0.001) decreased and N2–P2 amplitude (t = −5.01, P < 0.001) and visual analog scale score (χ2 = −5.84, P < 0.001) increased with increased baseline temperature (35 vs. 32°C). CHEPs parameters did not differ with time (baseline vs. 30 min vs. 1 year).Conclusion: We established normal CHEPs values in Chinese adults. We found that CHEPs parameters changed with baseline temperature and that the short- and long-term test reproducibility were satisfactory.
Highlights
Small fiber neuropathy (SFN) is a peripheral neuropathy that affects small-caliber thinly myelinated Aδ and unmyelinated C fibers (McCarthy et al, 1995; Said, 2003; Hoitsma et al, 2004)
We found no significant differences in Contact heat evoked potentials (CHEPs) parameters at different time intervals
We found that N2 latency/height was affected by both age and sex, while P2 latency/height and N2–P2 amplitude were affected by age
Summary
Small fiber neuropathy (SFN) is a peripheral neuropathy that affects small-caliber thinly myelinated Aδ and unmyelinated C fibers (McCarthy et al, 1995; Said, 2003; Hoitsma et al, 2004). Some studies report that intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) assessment is the most reliable diagnostic test for SFN (Hoitsma et al, 2004; Lauria et al, 2010a). CHEPs Normal Value in China abnormal temperature threshold testing; if any two of these criteria are met, SFN can be diagnosed (Lauria et al, 2010b; Tesfaye et al, 2010). IENFD measurement requires skin biopsy and immunohistochemical staining, and the sensitivity of IENFD for SFN depends largely on the chosen cutoff values (Nebuchennykh et al, 2009). This test has been widely applied in Western countries, it is not commonly available in China. We established the normal values of CHEPs parameters in Chinese adults, optimized the test technique, and determined its reproducibility
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