title: Repeater F-waves are signs of motor unit pathology in polio survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether F-waves reveal electrophysiological features of anterior horn cells in polio survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three polio survivors and 20 healthy controls underwent motor nerve conduction studies of the median and tibial nerves bilaterally, including sampling of F-waves elicited by 100 stimuli and the determination of motor unit number estimation (MUNE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant increase in abnormally stereotyped ("repeater") F-waves and a reduction of F-wave persistence were observed in both nerves in the polio group as compared with the control group. Repeater F-waves had a negative correlation with MUNE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These trends in F-wave persistence and repeater F-waves after motor unit loss are characteristic findings in polio survivors. Repeater F-waves are a sign of motor unit pathology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hachisuka
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Komori
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hachisuka
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000870:Anterior Horn Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015995:Prevalence; D017741:Survivors; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: F-wave; MUNE; polio; post-polio syndrome; repeater F-waves