Quantitative sensory studies in hemiplegic patients with shoulder-hand syndrome after stroke

Objective:By measuring the sensory threshold of patients by means of quantitative sensory testing(QST)technology to evaluate the small fiber function and the relationship between its function and shoulder-hand syndrome(SHS). Method: Testing the patients both with SHS and without SHS for the thremal thresholds of the thenar eminence and the vibration thresholds of ventral thumb with quantitative sensory testing apparatus by threshold measurement. Result:The cold threshold in patients with SHS was significantly decreased(P0.05) and the warm threshold was significantly increased(P0.05) when compared with the thresholds in control patients.The cold-evoked pain, heat-evoked pain and vibration thresholds were similar to the thresholds in control patients.But in patients with SHS, the value difference between cold threshold and cold-evoked pain threshold(P0.01) as well as that between warm threshold and heat-evoked pain threshold(P0.01) were significantly decreased when compared with the control patients.Conclusion: The incidence of sensory impairment is significantly increased in post-stroke SHS patients. The main manifestations of the sensory impairment are decreasing thermal threshold and hyperalgesia. The impairments of C-fibers and Aδ-fibers may play an important role in the pathogenesis of post-stroke SHS.Author′s address The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 410013