Turns-amplitude analysis and motor unit potential analysis in myasthenia gravis.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to investigate myopathic changes in myasthenia gravis (MG) by using turns-amplitude analysis (TAA) and quantitative motor unit potential duration analysis (MUPan), to correlate myopathic changes with severity and duration of the disease and the results of diagnostic tests including repetitive nerve stimulation test (RNS), single fiber electromyography (SFEMG), and anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR-ab), and to compare the sensitivities of these two methods in detecting myopathic changes in MG.


METHODS
We studied both MUPan and TAA in 32 patients with MG.


RESULTS
The MUPan study showed myopathic changes in 12 patients (37.5%); TAA revealed a myopathic pattern in 4 (12.5%) and a neurogenic pattern in 4 cases (12.5%). Two of the 4 patients with a myopathic change by TAA also had short-duration mean MUP on the MUPan. No statistically significant association was found between the myopathic changes either by MUPan or TAA, and the various clinical and laboratory features.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that MUPan is a more sensitive method than TAA in showing myopathic changes in MG, and that TAA is of limited help in demonstrating them.
Odabasi
Z
Z
Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, The Veterans Affairs Medical Center, USA.
Kuruoglu
R
R
Oh
S J
SJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004576:Electromyography; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic