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Papers of the Week


Papers: 14 Dec 2019 - 20 Dec 2019


Human Studies


2020 Jul - Aug


J Pain


21


7-8

Test-retest and inter-examiner reliability of a novel bedside quantitative sensory testing battery in postherpetic neuralgia patients.

Authors

Wasan AD, Alter BJ, Edwards RR, Argoff CE, Sehgal N, Walk D, Moeller-Bertram T, Wallace MS, Backonja M
J Pain. 2020 Jul - Aug; 21(7-8):858-868.
PMID: 31837446.

Abstract

In health and disease, the somatosensory system has been interrogated with standardized research techniques, collectively referred to as quantitative sensory testing (QST). In neuropathic pain, QST has been used to characterize multiple sensory derangements. However, the use of QST outside the lab has been limited by several factors, including a lack of standardization, variability in procedural technique, and duration of testing that would be unacceptable for clinic. To address these shortcomings, the Neuropathic Pain Research Consortium (NPRC) designed an easy and low-cost "bedside" QST procedure. To test the hypothesis that this procedure would be clinically reliable over time and across different examiners, a multi-site, blinded study was performed in subjects with postherpetic neuralgia. Generally, agreement between two examiners and over two study visits with one examiner was high. Additionally, intraclass correlation coefficients and Kappa statistics calculated showed that the battery of QST tests included were highly reliable. Interestingly, mechanical modalities (light brush, pinprick, pressure, and vibration) showed the highest reliability. The least reliable modalities were cool (room temperature) and warmth (38°C). These data demonstrate that the NPRC beside QST protocol is reliable across examiner and over time, providing a validated QST tool for use in clinical practice and clinical trials. Perspective: This blinded, multi-center trial in 32 patients with postherpetic neuralgia demonstrates bedside quantitative sensory testing is reliable and suitable as a clinical trial outcome. The novel bedside battery could be used in clinical trials or in clinical practice over time given the reliability data presented in this article.