Biothesiometry

{{Short description|Medical measurement of vibration perception}}

File:Biothesiometer - Биотезиометер.jpg

File:Digital Biothesiometer.png

Biothesiometry is a noninvasive medical test used to quantify the perception of vibration by measuring its threshold.{{Citation |last1=Mulhall |first1=John P. |title=Biothesiometry |date=2017 |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-319-42178-0_2 |work=Atlas of Office Based Andrology Procedures |pages=9–14 |editor-last=Mulhall |editor-first=John P. |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-42178-0_2 |isbn=978-3-319-42176-6 |access-date=2022-02-27 |last2=Jenkins |first2=Lawrence C. |editor2-last=Jenkins |editor2-first=Lawrence C.|url-access=subscription }} It is used in neurology and electrophysiology to diagnose a number of conditions, like diabetic neuropathy and erectile dysfunction, where the vibration perception threshold (VPT) would be higher than average.{{Cite journal|last1=Davis|first1=E. A.|last2=Jones|first2=T. W.|last3=Walsh|first3=P.|last4=Byrne|first4=G. C.|date=Sep 1997|title=The use of biothesiometry to detect neuropathy in children and adolescents with IDDM|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9283795|journal=Diabetes Care|volume=20|issue=9|pages=1448–1453|doi=10.2337/diacare.20.9.1448|issn=0149-5992|pmid=9283795|s2cid=12199660 }} The numerical nature of the test can help stage the progression of disease or complications.

The test is done through a biothesiometer, which is composed of a handheld probe wired to a display unit. Both digital and analog types are commercially available, giving the reading on either a dial or a screen.

In a systematic review of screening methods for pediatric diabetic peripheral neuropathies, biothesiometry and fine microfilaments were shown to be the only diagnostic methods with high sensitivity and specificity.{{Cite journal |last1=Hirschfeld |first1=Gerrit |last2=von Glischinski |first2=Michael |last3=Blankenburg |first3=Markus |last4=Zernikow |first4=Boris |date=2014-05-01 |title=Screening for Peripheral Neuropathies in Children With Diabetes: A Systematic Review |url=https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/133/5/e1324/32806/Screening-for-Peripheral-Neuropathies-in-Children |journal=Pediatrics |language=en |volume=133 |issue=5 |pages=e1324–e1330 |doi=10.1542/peds.2013-3645 |pmid=24709928 |s2cid=1973886 |issn=0031-4005|url-access=subscription }}

A systematic review showed that there is a strong co-relation between HbA1c values and Vibration Perception Test and could be a predictor for complications in the foot following Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.{{Cite journal |last1=Maiya |first1=Arun G. |last2=Parameshwar |first2=Anche |last3=Hande |first3=Manjunath |title=Relationship Between Glycated Hemoglobin and Vibration Perception Threshold in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31838926/ |journal=The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds |year=2020 |volume=19 |issue=2 |pages=120–124 |doi=10.1177/1534734619882173 |issn=1552-6941 |pmid=31838926|s2cid=209384436 }}

In a systemic review of modern devices available for the assessment and screening of peripheral neuropathy, digital devices were evaluated to measure tactile sensation, vibration perception, thermal perception and foot skin temperature.{{Cite journal |last1=Riddhi |first1=Dasgupta |last2=Jebasingh |first2=Felix |last3=Thomas |first3=Nihal |last4=Kn |first4=Maruthy |last5=Sharma |first5=Sanjay |last6=Saravanan |first6=Bharathi |title=NEURO TOUCH: A novel digital device for assessment and screening of peripheral neuropathy |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958259221001140 |journal=The Foot |year=2022 |language=en |volume=51 |pages=101888 |doi=10.1016/j.foot.2021.101888 |pmid=35255407 |s2cid=244933416 |issn=0958-2592|url-access=subscription }}