Sensory function assessment of the human male lower urinary tract using current perception thresholds

Abstract

CPTs can be reliably detected at different LUT locations. However, alert and compliant subjects are essential. CPTs of LUT may become a complementary assessment method providing information on responsiveness and sensitivity of afferent LUT nerves. This is especially relevant for urethral afferents, which are not covered by standard urodynamic investigations. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:469-473, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sensory evoked cortical potentials of the lower urinary tract in healthy men

“…Repetitive square wave stimuli were applied to bladder dome (BD), trigone (TG), proximal urethra (pUR), mUR, and distal urethra (dUR) alternately using a slow ES (0.5 Hz/1 ms, 80 repetitions) and fast ES (3 Hz/0.2 ms, 400 repetitions) protocol. After standardized current perception threshold (CPT) testing, stimulation intensities were individually adapted to the highest tolerable level for each stimulation cycle. As methodological standard reference, tibial SEPs (right side only) were additionally assessed in all subjects using previously described technique …”

Possible role of hyposensitivity of C‐fiber afferents at the proximal urethra in the development of urge urinary incontinence in patients with detrusor overactivity

“…In contrast, square‐wave currents (2.5 and 95 Hz) have been shown to elicit strongly reproducible CPT results in healthy volunteers and patients with OAB measured at weekly intervals, whereas sinusoid currents elicited only weakly reproducible CPT . Furthermore, CPTs using square‐wave electrical stimulation can be reliably detected at different locations, such as the bladder dome and trigone, as well as the proximal, membranous, and distal urethra in healthy male subjects . In the present study, CPTs were measured in the proximal urethra with low‐frequency (3 Hz) square‐wave pulse stimulation in order to principally activate smaller and thinner nerve fibers of the 2 types of Aδ‐ and C‐fiber afferents innervating the LUT .…”

“…Furthermore, CPTs using square‐wave electrical stimulation can be reliably detected at different locations, such as the bladder dome and trigone, as well as the proximal, membranous, and distal urethra in healthy male subjects . In the present study, CPTs were measured in the proximal urethra with low‐frequency (3 Hz) square‐wave pulse stimulation in order to principally activate smaller and thinner nerve fibers of the 2 types of Aδ‐ and C‐fiber afferents innervating the LUT . However, the controversies regarding the differences between the pulse protocols remain unresolved.…”

“…The Foley balloon was inflated and gently positioned at the urethrovesical junction by gently pulling the catheter backwards to fit the electrodes in the proximal urethra. The catheter was connected to a constant current stimulator (Counterpoint MK2; Dantec Elektronik), supplying 0.5 ms square‐wave impulses at 3 Hz primarily to activate unmyelinated C‐fibers . The stimulus intensity was increased gradually until the patients first perceived it.…”

<p>Current Perception Threshold Testing in Pharyngeal Paresthesia Patients with Depression or Anxiety</p>

“…8 To date, CPT testing has been used for the evaluation of paresthesia in multiple medical fields. [9][10][11] In addition, it has been used to explore the sensory nerve function of oral mucosa. 12 However, no publications on the application of CPT in pharyngeal paresthesia have been released to the best of our knowledge.…”