title: Corticospinal tract dysfunction and development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis following electrical injury.
abstract: The causal relationship between electrical injury and development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains controversial. We describe the case of a 25-year-old man who developed ALS after a severe electrical injury. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated hyperintensities involving the corticospinal tract. Functional testing with transcranial magnetic stimulation established that the motor cortex was relatively inexcitable. In addition, there were features of denervation on electromyography and muscle biopsy that supported concomitant lower motor neuron findings and the diagnosis of ALS.
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Motor Neuron Disease Clinical Service, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huynh
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vucic
authors.forename: Benjamin C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Cheah
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clouston
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kiernan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*