Malaesthesias (Paresthesias): Test and Diagnosis

Laboratory parameters of the 1st order – obligatory laboratory tests.

• Fasting glucose (fasting blood glucose), oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) if necessary.

Laboratory parameters 2nd order – depending on the results of the history, physical examination and the obligatory laboratory parameters – for differential diagnostic clarification.

• Small blood count (MCV ↑ in alcohol dependence).
• Differential blood count
• Inflammatory parameter – CRP (C-reactive protein)
• Urine status (rapid test for: pH, leukocytes, nitrite, protein, glucose, ketone, urobilinogen, bilirubin, blood), sediment if necessary.
• Electrolytes – calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium – if tetany is suspected.
• Liver parameters – alanine aminotransferase (ALT, GPT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, GOT), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT, GGT), alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin.
• Folic acid, vitamin B12 levels
• TPHA test (Treponema pallidum hemagglutination test) – if syphilis is suspected.
• Carbodeficient transferrin (CDT) [CDT↑ in chronic alcoholism]
• Mercury
• CSF puncture (collection of cerebrospinal fluid by puncture of the spinal canal) for CSF diagnosis – e.g., in suspected multiple sclerosis (MS).