Thermal record of the test tubes method used for small fibers assessment.

Abstract

In Brazil, the test that uses test tubes filled with cold water (25oC) and tubes filled with water heated to a temperature of 45oC is recommended by the Ministry of Health as a way of evaluate thermal sensitivity on the injured skin of leprosy patients. The purpose of this work was to quantify the thermal stimulation applied to the skin, as well as the temperature variation of the heated water and of the tube's outer surface during stimulation sessions. The experiment had the participation of 14 healthy volunteers (31.2 ± 11.4 years-old), ten of which were male (33.1 ± 13.5 years-old) and four were female (26.5 ± 4.7 years-old). Three consecutive stimulation sessions were carried out, each of them with four stimuli. The maximum skin temperature at the end of the stimuli was measured at 35.8 ± 0.6oC. Such temperature values may be useful in the assessment of the loss of small fibers, which are responsible for the sensation of warmth.