title: Proximally evoked soleus H-reflex to S1 nerve root stimulation in sensory neuronopathies (ganglionopathies).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sensory neuronopathy (SNN) mimics distal sensory axonopathy. The conventional H-reflex elicited by tibial nerve stimulation (tibial H-reflex) is usually abnormal in both conditions. We evaluated the proximally evoked soleus H-reflex in response to S1 nerve root stimulation (S1 foramen H-reflex) in SNN.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven patients with SNN and 6 with distal sensory axonopathy were studied. Tibial and S1 foramen H-reflexes were performed bilaterally in each patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tibial and S1 foramen H-reflexes were absent bilaterally in all patients with SNN. In the patients with distal sensory axonopathy, tibial H-reflexes were absent in 4 and demonstrated prolonged latencies in 2, but S1 foramen H-reflexes were normal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Characteristic absence of the H-reflex after both proximal and distal stimulation reflects primary loss of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and the distinct non-length-dependent impairment of sensory nerve fibers in SNN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Mid-Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, 200040, China.
authors.forename: Dong-Qing
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Chao-Jun
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Xiang-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004576:Electromyography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006181:H-Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: H-reflex; S1nerve root stimulation; high voltage electrical stimulation; sensory axonopathy; sensory neuronopathy