[Sympathetic skin response: reference data for 100 normal subjects]. / Parametros de normalidad de la respuesta simpaticocutanea en 100 sujetos normales.

INTRODUCTION. The sympathetic skin response (SSR) has been used since its description in 1984 to test the integrity of the sympathetic autonomic nervous system to investigate peripheral and central nervous system diseases. AIM. To present a neurophysiological examination protocol for SSR and the normal parameters for a population of 100 normal subjects. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. To evaluate the characteristics of 200 SSR tests for 100 normal subjects adequately informed: latency, amplitude (peak to peak) and persistence. The subject lays supine and relaxed, with no visual nor auditory stimuli for several minutes. Cutaneous electrodes are used for stimulation and recording, the latter in palm (active) and back (reference) in both hands simultaneously (second interosseous space). The stimulus is applied in the glabela at irregular intervals. RESULTS. We studied 100 normal subjects aged 12 to 89 years (mean: 45.6), 21 men and 79 women. The parameters measured in the 200 SSR are: latency, 1.42 ± 0.03 s; amplitude, 2.44 ± 1.84 mV; persistence, 67.2 ± 19.8%. CONCLUSIONS. SSR is an objective, reproducible, measurable, easy to perform and unpainful for the patient and serves as a basis for further study of other diseases in which there is a dysfunction of the sympathetic autonomic nervous system.

Parámetros de normalidad de la respuesta simpaticocutánea en 100 sujetos normales / Sympathetic skin response: reference data for 100 normal subjects

Introducción. La respuesta simpaticocutánea (RSC) se ha utilizado desde su descripción en 1984 para investigar la integridad del sistema nervioso vegetativo simpático en enfermedades del sistema nervioso periférico y central. Objetivo. Presentar un protocolo de exploración neurofisiológica de la RSC y el análisis de sus parámetros de normalidad en una población de sujetos asintomáticos. Sujetos y métodos. Se han valorado las características de 200 RSC correspondientes a 100 sujetos voluntarios normales convenientemente informados –latencia, amplitud (p-p) y persistencia– para cuantificar la habituación al estímulo. El sujeto se coloca en decúbito supino y relajado, con ausencia de estímulos auditivos y luminosos durante varios minutos. Se utilizan electrodos cutáneos para la estimulación y el registro; este último en la palma (activo) y el dorso (referencia) de ambas manos (en el segundo espacio interóseo). Se estimula en la zona glabelar a intervalos irregulares. Resultados. Se han estudiado 100 sujetos normales con edades entre 12 y 89 años (media: 45,6 años); 21 hombres y 79 mujeres. Los parámetros valorados en las 200 RSC son: latencia, 1,42 ± 0,03 s; amplitud, 2,44 ± 1,84 mV, y persistencia, 67,2 ± 19,8%. Conclusiones. La RSC es un test objetivo, reproducible, medible, sencillo de realizar y no doloroso para el paciente, y que sirve como base para el estudio posterior de otras enfermedades en las que existe una disfunción del sistema nervioso vegetativo simpático, aunque no claramente definida, cuantificada ni evaluada en algunas de ellas (AU)

Introduction. The sympathetic skin response (SSR) has been used since its description in 1984 to test the integrity of the sympathetic autonomic nervous system to investigate peripheral and central nervous system diseases. Aim. To present a neurophysiological examination protocol for SSR and the normal parameters for a population of 100 normal subjects. Subjects and methods. To evaluate the characteristics of 200 SSR tests for 100 normal subjects adequately informed: latency, amplitude (peak to peak) and persistence. The subject lays supine and relaxed, with no visual nor auditory stimuli for several minutes. Cutaneous electrodes are used for stimulation and recording, the latter in palm (active) and back (reference) in both hands simultaneously (second interosseous space). The stimulus is applied in the glabela at irregular intervals. Results. We studied 100 normal subjects aged 12 to 89 years (mean: 45.6), 21 men and 79 women. The parameters measured in the 200 SSR are: latency, 1.42 ± 0.03 s; amplitude, 2.44 ± 1.84 mV; persistence, 67.2 ± 19.8%. Conclusions. SSR is an objective, reproducible, measurable, easy to perform and unpainful for the patient and serves as a basis for further study of other diseases in which there is a dysfunction of the sympathetic autonomic nervous system (AU)