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The postpolio syndrome ‐ a critical comment to the diagnosis
Author(s) -
Aurlien D.,
Strandjord R. E.,
Hegland Ø
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1999.tb01040.x
Subject(s) - medicine , poliomyelitis , atrophy , physical therapy , disease , denervation , spinal muscular atrophy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , pediatrics
Objectives ‐ The postpolio syndrome (PPS) is said to comprise symptoms which are characteristic of a specific disorder affecting former polio sufferers many years after their acute disease. Localized muscular weakening with or without attendant pain and atrophy are claimed to separate patients with PPS from persons with unspecific common symptoms from the musculoskeletal system. Therefore our objective was to evaluate the specificity of the symptoms of the PPS. Material and methods ‐ Eighty‐one former polio sufferers were, based on clinical examination and a questionnaire, compared with 116 gender and age matched controls. Results ‐ Significant differences between patients and controls of self‐reported muscular weakening and pain in different locations were found. However, the level of similar complaints reported by the controls also was considerable. Conclusion ‐ We question the validity of the diagnosis in cases without localized atrophy or other objective signs of denervation.