Variability in vibration perception threshold among sites: a potential source of error in biothesiometry.

Full Abstract

Vibration perception threshold was measured with a biothesiometer by a single observer at both medial malleoli and both big toes in 110 diabetic patients aged 15-65 selected at random and in 64 non-diabetic subjects aged 20-65. The vibration perception threshold showed appreciable individual variation both between contralateral sites and between ipsilateral sites, differing by at least 30% between the big toes in 26 (24%) of the diabetic patients and 16 (25%) of the non-diabetic group. Variability between sites was significantly greater in the diabetics than the normal subjects. The vibration perception threshold exceeded published normal values at one or more sites in 22 of the diabetic patients but at all four sites in only four. The wide variability in vibration perception threshold among sites may be due to the tissue characteristics locally and, in diabetic patients, possibly to asymmetric neuropathy. Biothesiometer readings at single or unilateral sites may be unrepresentative or misleading.

Author information

Author/s: Williams, G (G); Gill, J S (JS); Aber, V (V); Mather, H M (HM);

Affiliation: Department of Medicine, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Controlled Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: British medical journal (Clinical research ed.) (Br Med J (Clin Res Ed)), published in ENGLAND. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1988-Jan; vol 296 (issue 6617) : pp 233-5

Dates: Created 1988/04/06; Completed 1988/04/06; Revised 2008/11/20;

PMID: 3124898, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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