title: Satellite potentials on EMG: neurophysiologic evidence of axonal transection in MS?
abstract: To detect signs of axonal damage in MS, the authors investigated the occurrence in EMG of motor unit action potentials with satellite potentials (SP-MUAP) in the upper limb muscles in 10 consecutive patients with MS with cervical spinal cord demyelinating lesions and 10 control subjects. Subjects' SP-MUAP rate was 0 to 2.5% (median 0%) in the control group, and 0 to 17.5% (median 7.5%) in the MS group (p < 0.01). Motor unit remodeling secondary to axonal transection of spinal motor neurons traversing cervical demyelinating lesions may be hypothesized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Rome, La Sapienza, Italy. antoninimusc@uniroma.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morino
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giubilei
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paolillo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ceschin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gragnani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bucci
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pozzilli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D004576:Electromyography; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology; D014855:Wallerian Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology