EZSCAN, is a cardiometabolic risk test.
Small fiber neuropathy and cardiometabolic risk
Several studies have proven that small fiber neuropathies are common in people with insulin resistance and prediabetes (IGT) [1] [2].
Sudomotor function is known to reflect sympathetic activity and to provide insight into postganglionic autonomic innervation. Its assessment represents a useful tool to evaluate autonomic disorders [3].
Investigation of sudomotor function can help in early detection of cardiometabolic risk.
Normal innervation of a sweat gland at the distal leg in a healthy subject (left). Reduced innervation of a sweat gland in a person with sweat dysfunction (right). [4]
Reproduced with permission from Lauria et al.
A dynamic non invasive test
EZSCAN measures the capacity of the sweat glands to release chloride ions in response to an electrochemical activation. It is a dynamic test equivalent to a stress test [5]. The information is then used to determine the patient’s cardiometabolic risk.
A low voltage of variable amplitude is applied to electrodes on the skin and the electrical potential difference caused by the electrochemical reaction on these electrodes is measured. EZSCAN uses 4 independent electrodes placed on body regions with a high density of sweat glands (palms, feet).
Results are displayed as a probability score
Following a three minute data sampling period, the conductances which are related to the concentration of the extracted chloride from the sweat are displayed graphically on the touch screen. According to the conductances measured on hands and feet, an EZSCAN score is calculated and results are displayed according to this risk score with a colour index.
- Green: no risk
- Yellow: moderate risk
- Orange-red: high risk
Patients with high cardiometabolic risk.
Data processing results in a score representative of the individual’s risk to show insulin resisitance and pre-diabetes (IGT) [6].
[1] Tavee at al. Small fiber neuropathy : a burning problem. Cleveland clinic journal of medicine. 2009;76:297-305 [2] Putz et al. Non invasive evaluation of neural impairment in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. Diabetes care. 2009;32:181-183 [3] Low et al. Evaluation of sudomotor function. Clinical Neurophysiology. 2004;115:1506-1513 [4] Lauria G, Lombardi R. Skin biopsy: a new tool for diagnosing peripheral neuropathy. BMJ 2007; 334:1159-1162 [5] Hubert at al. Abnormal electrochemical skin conductance in cystic fibrosis. Journal of cystic fibrosis. 2010;10(1):15-20 [2] Brunswick Ph, Mayaudon H, Albin V, Lair A, Ringuede A, Cassir M. Use of Ni electrodes chronoamperometry for improved diagnostics of diabetes and cardiac diseases. Conf Proc IEEE. Eng Med Biol Soc. 2007; 2007: 4544-7
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