OBJECTIVE: To investigate cutaneous sympathetic functions in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) using sympathetic sweat responses (SSwRs) and skin vasomotor reflexes (SVmRs). METHODS: In 29 hands (20 patients) with idiopathic CTS, SSwRs were recorded with a sudorometer from the thenar eminence, and SVmRs were used to measure cutaneous blood flow using a Doppler flowmeter placed on the index finger tip. Normal data were obtained from 15 volunteers of similar age. RESULTS: SSwRs or SVmRs were abnormal in 23 (80%) hands; SSwRs were absent in 38%, whereas SVmRs were abnormally decreased in 59%. Autonomic symptoms were present in 18 (62%) hands; finger edema (38%) and dry hand (35%) were frequent symptoms. Autonomic symptoms, and abnormal SSwRs and SVmRs did not correlate with results of nerve conduction studies. CONCLUSIONS: Skin sudomotor or vasomotor sympathetic function is frequently impaired in CTS. Susceptibility to compression ischemia may be different in sympathetic unmyelinated and large myelinated fibers.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate cutaneous sympathetic functions in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) using sympathetic sweat responses (SSwRs) and skin vasomotor reflexes (SVmRs). METHODS: In 29 hands (20 patients) with idiopathic CTS, SSwRs were recorded with a sudorometer from the thenar eminence, and SVmRs were used to measure cutaneous blood flow using a Doppler flowmeter placed on the index finger tip. Normal data were obtained from 15 volunteers of similar age. RESULTS: SSwRs or SVmRs were abnormal in 23 (80%) hands; SSwRs were absent in 38%, whereas SVmRs were abnormally decreased in 59%. Autonomic symptoms were present in 18 (62%) hands; finger edema (38%) and dry hand (35%) were frequent symptoms. Autonomic symptoms, and abnormal SSwRs and SVmRs did not correlate with results of nerve conduction studies. CONCLUSIONS: Skin sudomotor or vasomotor sympathetic function is frequently impaired in CTS. Susceptibility to compression ischemia may be different in sympathetic unmyelinated and large myelinated fibers.
Authors: Piotr Bargiel; Norbert Czapla; Piotr Prowans; Daniel Kotrych; Paweł Ziętek; Dariusz Lusina; Paweł Łęgosz; Jan Petriczko Journal: Open Med (Wars) Date: 2021-01-27
Authors: Nelson Wolosker; Augusto Ishy; Guilherme Yazbek; Jose Ribas Milanez de Campos; Paulo Kauffman; Pedro Puech-Leão; Fabio Biscegli Jatene Journal: Clinics (Sao Paulo) Date: 2013 Impact factor: 2.365