title: Electroneurography index based on nerve conduction study data: method and findings in control subjects.
abstract: We developed a summary score of data obtained from nerve conduction studies (NCS). The principle of such approach is that when a nonrandom trend to lower amplitudes or conduction velocities is present, it may be revealed by a summary nerve conduction score. In a group of normal subjects, peroneal, sural, ulnar, and superficial radial nerves were studied; age- and height-related F-wave and soleus H-reflex latencies were also examined. Z-scores of distal latencies, amplitudes, conduction velocities, F-wave latencies, and H-index were averaged in order to obtain three electroneurography (ENG) indices: a simple arithmetic (ENG index 1) and two weighted means (index 2 and index 3), assigning a double or triple weight to lower limb z-scores. Reference limits were established using multiple regression equations of ENG indices against age and height. This technique could be useful in providing a better cut-off between normal and diseased populations and in improving test-retest variability of NCS when follow-up studies are required.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Cardiovascolari e Neurologiche, Sezione di Neurologia, Università di Cagliari, Ospedale S. Giovanni di Dio, via Ospedale 54, I-09124 Cagliari, Italy. tacconi@pacs.unica.it
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tacconi
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Manca
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tamburini
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrigno
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cossu
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cannas
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giagheddu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results