A STUDY OF SMALL FIBER NEUROPATHY BY EVALUATING THE THRESHOLD OF THERMAL SENSATION USING HEAT FLUX

1999 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 09670673
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Neurology
• Research Institution: JIKEI UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
• Principal Investigator: OKA Hisayoshi JIKEI UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, INTERNAL MEDICINE, ASSISTANT, 医学部, 助手 (90194331)
• Project Period (FY): 1997 – 1999
• Keywords: HEAT FLUX / THERMAL SENSATION / SMALL FIBER NEUROPATHY / DIABETIC NEUROPATHY / UNMYELINATED FIBER / AXONAL DEGENERATION

Research Abstract

We estimated small fiber neuropathy by measuring the threshold of thermosensation in diabetic neuropathy using a new technique based on heat flux, which indicates the movement of heat energy. The subjects were 20 healthy controls and 20 diabetic patients. A thermostimulator operating on the Peltier principle was attached to the thenar skin area of the hand and its temperature was increased or decreased by 0.2℃ per second unitl the subject felt a warm or cold sensation. The warm heat flux (WHF J/mィイD12ィエD1) and cold heat flux (CHF J/mィイD12ィエD1) were calculated by integrating each heat flux until it felt warm or cold respectively. The WHF of healthy controls was 40 J/mィイD12ィエD1 and the CHF was indicated 59 J/mィイD12ィエD1. The WHF of diabetic patients (115 J/mィイD12ィエD1) was significantly larger than that of controls. The CHF of diabetic patients (170 J/mィイD12ィエD1) was also significantly larger than that of controls. The measuring the threshold of thermosensation using the new technique based on heat flux is beneficial to estimate small fiber dysfunction in diabetic neuropathy.