title: Value of distal compound muscle action potential duration prolongation in acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: a European perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The value of distal compound muscle action potential duration (DCMAPD) has not been widely studied in acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) with electromyography (EMG) equipment at low-cut filter settings <10 Hz, as used in Europe.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the records of 40 patients with AIDP and 40 controls with axonal neuropathy, from Leicester, UK, and Angers, France.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The best combination of sensitivity/specificity for AIDP using DCMAPD prolongation in any one nerve was offered by cut-offs from two other studies (sensitivity: 90% and 87.5%, respectively; specificity: 92.5% for both). Independent DCMAPD prolongation in any one nerve was better than, or equivalent to, other criteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DCMAPD prolongation in any one nerve, at cut-offs suggested by prior studies, represents a sensitive and specific marker to aid/simplify electrodiagnosis of AIDP in patients studied with EMG equipment with low-cut filter settings of <10 Hz.
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Clinic, Department of Neurology, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester LE5 4PW, UK. yusuf.rajabally@uhl-tr.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Yusuf A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Rajabally
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicolas
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors