Abstract:
Objective To evaluate the use of SUDOSCAN, a peripheral autonomic nerve detection tool, for assessing bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy (BIPN).
Methods Eighty-six patients with multiple myeloma (MM) from Beijing Chao-yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, between July 2021 and October 2022 were assessed. They received examination of electric skin conductivity (ESC) values with SUDOSCAN. These were compared with the Total Neuropathy Score clinical version (TNSc) and National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Scale (NCI-CTC) grading. Another 30 patients with no history of tumors or chemotherapy drug exposure were included as controls.
Results The ESC value for hands or feet in the experimental group was significantly lower than that of controls (hand: 56.4 μs vs. 76.5 μs, P<0.001; feet: 47.5 μs vs. 78.0 μs, P<0.001). The ESC value was negatively correlated with the TNSc score (r=-0.403, P<0.001); however, it had no significant correlation with the NCI-CTC grade (r=-0.227, P=0.051). There was a significant positive correlation between the NCI-CTC level and the TNSc score (r=0.591, P<0.001). The median evaluation time required by SUDOSCAN was similar to that of NCI-CTC grade (both were 2.4 minutes), and the median evaluation time required by the TNSc score was the longest (13.4 minutes).
Conclusions There is no accurate and efficient assessment method for BIPN currently. SUDOSCAN is simple to use and has a significant negative correlation with TNSc scores together with a shorter time. Therefore, SUDOSCAN can evaluate BIPN quickly and effectively.