title: Abnormal conduction in corticospinal pathways in Wilson's disease: investigation of nine cases with magnetic brain stimulation.
abstract: Electromyographic (EMG) responses evoked by transcranial magnetic brain stimulation were studied in nine patients with Wilson's disease (WD). Six of the nine patients had prolonged central motor latencies (CMLs), reduced amplitude, or absent responses in at least one of the examined muscles. In one patient, abnormal EMG responses normalized following treatment with penicillamine. Pathophysiologically abnormal EMG responses might result from a potentially reversible impairment of corticomotoneuronal pathways and/or a reduced excitability of motoneurons due to basal ganglia dysfunction. The possible pathophysiological mechanisms are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Technical University, Munich, F.R.G.
authors.forename: B U
authors.initials: BU
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Britton
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bischoff
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Machetanz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benecke
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Conrad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004576:Electromyography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006527:Hepatolenticular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010396:Penicillamine