title: Electrophysiologic findings in multifocal motor neuropathy.
abstract: We performed detailed electrophysiologic studies on 16 patients with clinically defined multifocal motor neuropathy and found a wide spectrum of demyelinating features. Only five patients (31%) had conduction block in one or more nerves. However, in 15 patients (94%) at least one nerve showed other features of demyelination. We also noted a significant degree of superimposed axonal degeneration in 15 patients. Eight patients (50%) had individual nerves with pure axonal injury, despite the presence of demyelinating features in other nerves. Antiganglioside antibodies were elevated in four of five patients with conduction block and five of 11 patients without conduction block. We conclude that multifocal motor neuropathy is characterized electrophysiologically by a wide spectrum of axonal and demyelinating features. Diagnostic criteria requiring conduction block may lead to underdiagnosis of this potentially treatable neuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-8897, USA.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Barohn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011826:Radial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside; D003520:Cyclophosphamide