title: Root stimulation studies in the evaluation of patients with motor neuron disease.
abstract: Nerve root stimulation may be employed in patients with motor neuron disease (MND) to rule out motor neuropathy with conduction block. The diagnostic utility of these studies is unknown, in part because the range of amplitude changes across nerve root segments in patients with active neuronal degeneration has not been well studied. We reviewed root stimulation studies in 32 patients (59 nerves) with MND and found segmental amplitude reduction from 0 to 45%, a range similar to values reported for normal subjects; there was no suggestion of conduction block based on our usual criteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Raynor
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Shefner
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Logigian
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hinchey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000503:physiopathology*