Dynamic F wave study in patients suffering from peripheral arterial occlusive disease.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively detect significant transient F wave abnormalities obtained after exercise in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and to assess the potential diagnostic sensitivity of dynamic F wave study in such a context.


METHODS
A series of 40 electrical stimuli were delivered to the peroneal and the posterior tibial nerves of 25 patients with PAD in order to obtain F waves at rest and post-exercise. The following variables were estimated and the obtained pre- and post-exercise data were compared: F persistence, F wave latency, amplitude, duration and F chronodispersion. For each nerve studied, the minimum, average and maximum values were calculated. Conventional electrophysiological data were also collected pre- and post-exercise and the data obtained were also compared. Twenty-five healthy age-, gender- and height-matched individuals served as controls.


RESULTS
No evidence of conventional nerve conduction abnormalities was recorded either pre- or post-exercise in the group of patients. As regards the peroneal nerve, the significantly reduced F wave persistence (P = 0.007) and maximum F wave amplitude post- as opposed to pre-exercise (P = 0.05)- were the main findings to emerge. The average (P = 0.017) and the minimum duration (P = 0.005) of tibial F waves were also significantly increased post- compared with pre-exercise. Insignificant differences were observed between pre- and post-exercise neurophysiological and F wave values in the group of controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the observed absence of conventional neurophysiological abnormalities, the detection of dynamic F wave changes supports the view of an increased diagnostic sensitivity of this method in patients with mild PAD.
Argyriou
A A
AA
EMG Laboratory, Department of Neurology, University of Patras Medical School, Rion-Patras, Greece.
Tsolakis
I
I
Papadoulas
S
S
Polychronopoulos
P
P
Gourzis
P
P
Chroni
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*