Electrophysiological studies of a child with presumed botulism.
Electrophysiological studies of a child with presumed botulism showed that the amplitude of the serially and electrically elicited blink reflexes Rl, R2 and R2' was reduced during recovery. These findings suggest a conduction block of the facial nerves. Other nerve conduction studies and an incremental response to repetitive stimulation demonstrated a block of the presynaptic neuromuscular transmission. Results of the biological tests were negative, but those of electrodiagnosis and clinical examination favored a diagnosis of botulism. A combination of electrically elicited blink reflexes and rapid repetitive stimulation of the peripheral nerves was found to be a sensitive method of assessing the integrity of neuromuscular junctions and the subclinical impairment of muscle nerves.
Hatanaka
T
T
Department of Pediatrics, Saiseikai Nakatsu Hospital, 2-10-39 Shibata, Kita-ku, Osaka, 530 Japan. tsurugi@yo.rim.or.jp
Owa
K
K
Yasunaga
M
M
Kamezaki
S
S
Suehiro
Y
Y
Yasuhara
A
A
Shinomiya
K
K
D001767:Blinking / Q000502:physiology*; D001906:Botulism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology; D012025:Reflex, Pupillary / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*