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A prospective multicentre study on sural nerve action potentials in ALS

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Peter Fawcett, Dr Ian Schofield

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Abstract

Objective: To evaluate sensory nerve conduction studies in ALS in a prospective multicentre study involving 7 neurophysiologists from 6 European countries. Methods: Bilateral sural potentials were obtained in 35 ALS patients and 35 age-matched controls according to a standardised examination protocol using antidromic surface technique. The recordings from the right sural nerve of the controls were used for reference values. A reduction from the mean of controls greater than 2 SDs was considered abnormal. Results: Reduced sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude or reduced conduction velocity (CV), or both, was found in 6 ALS patients (17%). Decrease in CV was the most frequent finding, and was observed in 8 nerves from 5 patients. Reduced SNAP amplitude was found in 2 nerves from 2 patients. All changes were minor ranging from -2.1 to -3.2 SDs. Conclusions: This is the first standardised multicentre study on sensory potentials in ALS. It confirms that although normal sensory findings should be expected in the majority of ALS patients, minor abnormalities are not uncommon. Significance: Mild sensory abnormalities do not necessarily exclude a diagnosis of ALS. (c) 2008 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Pugdahl K, Fuglsang-Frederiksen A, Johnsen B, de Carvalho M, Fawcett PRW, Labarre-Vila A, Liguori R, Nix WA, Schofield IS

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Clinical Neurophysiology

Year: 2008

Volume: 119

Issue: 5

Pages: 1106-1110

ISSN (print): 1388-2457

ISSN (electronic): 1872-8952

Publisher: Elsevier Ireland Ltd

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2008.01.010

DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2008.01.010


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