Tactile threshold detection in leprosy patients with an electronic algometer

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• 作者：Fern ; a Guzzo Gomes ; Wilson Marques Jr. ; Norma Tiraboschi Foss ; Luí ; siane de Á ; vila Santana ; Marco Andrey Cipriani Frade
• 关键词：Leprosy ; Electronic esthesiometer ; Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments ; Sensitivity alteration
• 刊名：Journal of Neuroscience Methods
• 出版年：2009
• 出版时间：15 May 2009
• 年：2009
• 卷：179
• 期：2
• 页码：319-322
• 全文大小：320 K

文摘

Objective

To propose an electronic method for sensitivity evaluation in leprosy and to compare it to the Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments.

Methods

Thirty patients attending the Dermatology outpatient clinic of HCFMRP-USP were consecutively evaluated by both the electronic aesthesiometer and Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments on hand and foot test points. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to determine the variability of the electronic measures and the Kappa coefficient was calculated to determine the agreement between methods according to their categories (altered and non-altered tactile sensitivity).

Results

The ICC was approximately 1, demonstrating repeatability. The Kappa coefficient showed more than 75 and 63 % agreement on the hand and foot points, respectively. The mean agreement between the 2 methods for the 7 points of the right and left hand was 77.14 and 75.71 % , respectively. The mean agreement for all 10 points was 74.33 and 63.66 % on the right and left foot, respectively. In cases of disagreement the detection of altered tactile sensitivity by the electronic esthesiometer on the right and left foot was 90.91 and 84.25 % , respectively, with no detection by the monofilaments.

Conclusion

The results suggest that the electronic esthesiometer is a reliable and easy application, capable of evaluating alterations of tactile sensitivity in leprosy patients.