title: Skeletal muscle involvement in tropical endomyocardial fibrosis.
abstract: Evidence for neuromuscular dysfunction was sought in 20 consecutive, angiographically proven cases of tropical endomyocardial fibrosis (Group I). Statistical comparison was made with equal number of age, sex and weight-matched normal healthy volunteers (Group II), as well as similarly matched cases of consecutive heart failure (Group III). A myopathic pattern in the EMG was found in 85% of Group I and 65% of Group III patients. However, the severity and global extent of the EMG changes was much more marked in Group I than in Group III. The summed motor unit potential duration was reduced by 20.1% in Group I and by 9.5% in Group III. Corresponding figures for summed motor unit potential amplitude were 27.9% and 15.4%. the summed frequency of polyphasic potentials was significant in Group I and in Group III. Involvement of 3 or 4 muscles in the same patient was found in 80% of Group I, n 10% of Group III. The upper limb muscles were affected in 80% of Group I and 50% of Group III. The motor nerve conduction velocity and distal latency time were normal in all the patients. It is suggested therefore that the myopathic EMG changes in Group I patients may be related to the disease process itself, rather than a reflection of long standing CHF alone. Light-microscopic study of the quadriceps muscles in 8 patients of Group I did not reveal any abnormality.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood; D004576:Electromyography; D004719:Endomyocardial Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000503:physiopathology; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009431:Neural Conduction; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes