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Near‐nerve potential in lepromatous leprosy
Author(s) -
Marques Wilson,
Foss Norma T.,
Arruda Ana P. M.,
Barreira Amilton A.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.10464
Subject(s) - electrophysiology , leprosy , sensory nerve , nerve conduction , sensory system , medicine , sensation , neuroscience , anatomy , pathology , biology
In leprosy, sensory action potentials (SAPs) may be normal in spite of clinical sensory loss. This may result from the early involvement of small nerve fibers, which have potentials that are not detected in routine studies. To evaluate this possibility, we used a near‐nerve recording technique that records potentials from nerve fibers as small as 4–6 μm in diameter. We hypothesized that this technique might increase the sensitivity of nerve conduction studies in detecting leprosy neuropathy. We found the technique to be useful for recording conduction abnormalities in recently diagnosed patients, including those with preserved sensation, suggesting that axonal loss may be the underlying mechanism. Contrary to our hypothesis, however, recording the late SAP components did not improve the sensitivity of nerve conduction studies. We suggest that the late components having normal conduction velocities may be generated by either regenerating or remyelinating abnormal fibers, which have an electrophysiological behavior similar to that of normal 4–6‐μm‐diameter fibers. Muscle Nerve 28: 460–463, 2003