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Needle electromyography of the rectus abdominis in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Author(s) -
Xu Yingsheng,
Zheng Juyang,
Zhang Shuo,
Kang Dexuan,
Zhang Jun,
Fan Dongsheng
Publication year - 2007
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.20659
Subject(s) - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , electromyography , medicine , motor unit , subclinical infection , denervation , electromyoneurography , electrophysiology , electrodiagnosis , cardiology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , anatomy , surgery , disease
We examined the role of needle electromyography (EMG) of the rectus abdominis (RA) in assessing thoracic involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Needle EMG of the RA was performed in 67 patients with sporadic ALS and 110 healthy controls. The presence of abnormal spontaneous activity, configuration of motor unit action potentials (MUAPs), and recruitment pattern of motor unit potentials were examined. In ALS patients, MUAPs in the RA were of prolonged duration, large amplitude, and showed increased prevalence of polyphasic waveforms compared to controls. Significant differences in MUAP parameters, presence of abnormal spontaneous potentials, and interference patterns were noted between ALS patients and controls. Additionally, we found that active denervation was more frequent in the RA of ALS patients with dyspnea than those without dyspnea. Thus, conventional needle EMG of the RA is a valuable electrophysiological method to assess clinical and subclinical involvement of thoracic lower motor neurons in patients with suspected ALS. Muscle Nerve, 2006