Establishment of a new electrophysiological tool for evaluating small fiber dysfunction

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K21068
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Neurology; Laboratory medicine
• Research Institution: Shinshu University
• Principal Investigator: Kodaira Minori 信州大学, 学術研究院医学系(医学部附属病院), 助教 (60648012)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 末梢神経障害 / 痛覚 / 痛覚関連脳電位

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated clinical utility of intraepidermal electrical stimulation (IES) for evaluating small fiber (A-delta fiber) dysfunction. In patients with transthyretin familial amyloid polyneuropathy (ATTR-FAP) and healthy subjects, we evaluated pain threshold using IES and cold threshold using quantitative sensory testing (QST). Pain-related evoked potentials using IES were also analyzed. Pain threshold using IES was correlated with cold threshold using QST. Amplitude of pain-related evoked potentials was decreased with small fiber dysfunction in patients with ATTR-FAP. IES has a potential for a new clinical tool to evaluate small fiber dysfunction.

Free Research Field

神経生理学