Assessment of two alternative standardised tests for the vascular component of the hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Ye, Ying Griffin, Michael J
Copyright Year	2016
Abstract	BackgroundVibration-induced white finger (VWF) is the vascular component of the hand–arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Two tests have been standardised so as to assist the diagnosis of VWF: the measurement of finger rewarming times and the measurement of finger systolic blood pressures (FSBPs).ObjectivesThis study investigates whether the two tests distinguish between fingers with and without symptoms of whiteness and compares individual results between the two test methods.MethodsIn 60 men reporting symptoms of the HAVS, the times for their fingers to rewarm by 4°C (after immersion in 15°C water for 5 min) and FSBPs at 30°C, 15°C and 10°C were measured on the same day.ResultsThere were significant increases in finger rewarming times and significant reductions in FSBPs at both 15°C and 10°C in fingers reported to suffer blanching. The FSBPs had sensitivities and specificities >90%, whereas the finger rewarming test had a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 79%. Fingers having longer rewarming times had lower FSBPs at both temperatures.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that, when the test conditions are controlled according to the relevant standard, finger rewarming times and FSBPs can provide useful information for the diagnosis of VWF, although FSBPs are more sensitive and more specific.
Related Links	https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC5036229&blobtype=pdf
ISSN	13510711
Journal	Occupational and Environmental Medicine [Occup Environ Med]
Volume Number	73
DOI	10.1136/oemed-2016-103688
PubMed Central reference number	PMC5036229
Issue Number	10
PubMed reference number	27535036
e-ISSN	14707926
Language	English
Publisher	BMJ Publishing Group
Publisher Date	2016-08-17
Publisher Place	BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JR
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/
Subject Keyword	Vibration-induced white finger Hand-arm vibration syndrome Hand-transmitted vibration Finger skin temperature Finger systolic blood pressure
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health