Cold ‐evoked potentials in clinical practice: A head‐to‐head contrast with laser‐evoked responses

ConclusionsCEPs appear as a useful technique for exploring pain/temperature systems. Advantages are low cost of equipment and innocuity. Disadvantages are low signal-to-noise ratio for LL stimulation, and sensitivity to fatigue/habituation. Joint recording of CEPs and LEPs can increase the sensitivity of neurophysiological techniques to thin fibre- spinothalamic lesions, in particular, when abnormalities of cold perception predominate.SignificanceRecording of cold-evoked potentials is a well-tolerated, inexpensive and easy-to-use procedure that can be helpful in the diagnosis of abnormalities in the thin fibre- spinothalamic pathways. Supplementing LEPs with CEPs allows consolidating the diagnosis and, for some patients suffering from symptoms limited only to cold, CEPs but not LEPs may allow the diagnosis of thin fibre pathology. Optimal CEP recording conditions are important to overcome the low signal-to-noise ratio and habituation phenomena, which are less favourable than with LEPs.
Source: European Journal of Pain - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research