title: Paralytic shellfish poisoning: a case report and serial electrophysiologic observations.
abstract: We report serial electrophysiologic observations in a patient with acute bulbar and respiratory paralysis following ingestion of saxitoxin-contaminated clams. Prolonged distal motor and sensory latencies, slowed conduction velocities, and moderately diminished amplitudes were present at the outset. All values returned to normal over 5 days. These findings, the result of incomplete sodium channel blockade, distinguish paralytic shellfish poisoning from most other acute paralytic illnesses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester 01655.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sargent
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hammer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia; D010244:Bulbar Palsy, Progressive / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009431:Neural Conduction; D012133:Respiratory Paralysis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012530:Saxitoxin / Q000506:poisoning*; D057096:Shellfish Poisoning
chemical_list: D012530:Saxitoxin