TY - JOUR
T1 - Current perception threshold evaluation of the female urethra
AU - Kenton, Kimberly
AU - Fuller, Elizabeth
AU - Benson, J. Thomas
PY - 2003
Y1 - 2003
N2 - The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of the current perception threshold (CPT) evaluation in the female urethra. Women without LUT dysfunction underwent CPT testing using a Neurometer (Neurotron, Inc., Baltimore, MD) connected to a ring electrode in the urethra. Testing was done in a standardized fashion at three frequencies, 2000, 250 and 5 Hz, to determine when subjects first perceived the stimuli and when perceived stimuli became painful. Current perception threshold testing was accomplished in all 10 subjects studied. The level at which subjects first perceived stimuli was significantly lower than that at which the stimuli became painful (P < 0.002). Mean perception thresholds at 2000, 250 and 5 Hz were 70 μA (range 14-230), 25 μA (4-80) and 17 μA (2-78), respectively, and mean pain thresholds were 229 μA (54-424), 91 μA (24-162) and 110 μA (25-200), respectively. There was no difference in subjects' perception thresholds at 250 and 5 Hz (P = 0.206). Perception thresholds and pain thresholds were significantly different at all other frequencies. Women without LUT dysfunction have lower perception thresholds than pain thresholds and can distinguish between most stimuli at different frequencies. Current perception threshold testing of the female urethra is technically feasible and may be useful for assessing the functional integrity of different afferent pathways.
AB - The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of the current perception threshold (CPT) evaluation in the female urethra. Women without LUT dysfunction underwent CPT testing using a Neurometer (Neurotron, Inc., Baltimore, MD) connected to a ring electrode in the urethra. Testing was done in a standardized fashion at three frequencies, 2000, 250 and 5 Hz, to determine when subjects first perceived the stimuli and when perceived stimuli became painful. Current perception threshold testing was accomplished in all 10 subjects studied. The level at which subjects first perceived stimuli was significantly lower than that at which the stimuli became painful (P < 0.002). Mean perception thresholds at 2000, 250 and 5 Hz were 70 μA (range 14-230), 25 μA (4-80) and 17 μA (2-78), respectively, and mean pain thresholds were 229 μA (54-424), 91 μA (24-162) and 110 μA (25-200), respectively. There was no difference in subjects' perception thresholds at 250 and 5 Hz (P = 0.206). Perception thresholds and pain thresholds were significantly different at all other frequencies. Women without LUT dysfunction have lower perception thresholds than pain thresholds and can distinguish between most stimuli at different frequencies. Current perception threshold testing of the female urethra is technically feasible and may be useful for assessing the functional integrity of different afferent pathways.
KW - C-fibers
KW - Current perception threshold
KW - Quantitative sensory testing
KW - Urethra
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0042528739&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0042528739&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00192-002-1026-z
DO - 10.1007/s00192-002-1026-z
M3 - Article
C2 - 12851758
AN - SCOPUS:0042528739
SN - 0937-3462
VL - 14
SP - 133
EP - 135
JO - International Urogynecology Journal
JF - International Urogynecology Journal
IS - 2
ER -