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Myokymic discharges in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): A rare electrophysiologic finding?
Author(s) -
Whaley Nathaniel R.,
Rubin Devon I.
Publication year - 2010
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.21540
Subject(s) - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , medicine , brainstem , anterior horn cell , spinal cord , electrophysiologic study , anatomy , cardiology , disease , psychiatry , tachycardia
Abstract Myokymic discharges (MDs) are uncommonly recognized in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The electrophysiologic findings in 96 ALS patients were retrospectively reviewed. MDs were found in 5.2% of patients, in 0.81% of total muscles examined (8.2% cranial muscles vs. 0.15% limb muscles). The higher frequency of MDs in cranial muscles suggests a difference in the metabolic environment or other mechanism of instability of the anterior horn cells in the brainstem compared to the spinal cord. Muscle Nerve 41: 107–109, 2010