title: Diagnostic yield of muscle fibre conduction velocity in myopathies.
abstract: We prospectively assessed diagnostic yield of muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV) studies in patients with signs and symptoms suggestive of a myopathy. Results were analysed with respect to the final diagnosis, and compared to the reference standard, which was qualitative electromyography (EMG), turns-amplitude analysis (TAA), and muscle biopsy. We included 125 patients, in whom a myopathy was diagnosed in 71, and a neuromuscular disorder was excluded in 54. Sensitivity of MFCV for the presence of a myopathy was 84%, and specificity 83%. Diagnostic yield of MFCV was superior to EMG, TAA, and muscle biopsy in patients with metabolic myopathies, non-dystrophic myopathies, and channelopathies. We concluded that measurement of MFCV is a quantitative EMG technique with a high diagnostic yield. In certain myopathies, MFCV may be more informative than conventional EMG examination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Institute of Neurology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. pblijham@gmail.com
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Blijham
authors.forename: Baziel G M
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: van Engelen
authors.forename: Gea
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Drost
authors.forename: Dick F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Stegeman
authors.forename: H Jurgen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schelhaas
authors.forename: Machiel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Zwarts
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult