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Abnormalities in the sensory action potential in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Author(s) -
Shefner Jeremy M.,
Tyler H. Richard,
Krarup Christian
Publication year - 1991
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.880141218
Subject(s) - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , nerve conduction velocity , sensory system , medicine , sensory nerve , latency (audio) , compound muscle action potential , action potential , electrophysiology , neuroscience , psychology , disease , electrical engineering , engineering
Sensory function in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is thought to be normal; however, there is convincing morphologic evidence that sensory systems are affected in addition to motor systems. In this study, compound sensory action potentials were recorded with near nerve electrodes from 18 patients with ALS. Up to 1024 responses were averaged at high gain to determine minimum conduction velocity; that is, the conduction velocity of the slowest conducting component of the sensory action potential. Nine of 18 patients had abnormally reduced minimum conduction velocity, even when peak‐to‐peak amplitude and maximum conduction velocity (calculated from the latency to the initial positive peak) were normal. Only 3 of 18 patients showed abnormalities in peak‐to‐peak amplitude. Thus, subtle abnormalities in the sensory action potential can be detected in many patients with ALS.