title: [Motor nerve hyperexcitability in ALS: its pathophysiology and treatment].
abstract: Wide-spread fasciculations are prominent clinical features in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), specifically seen in ALS among disorders with neurogenic muscle atrophy. Fasciculations frequently arise from the motor nerve terminals, and the hyperexcitability of motor axons appears to constitute the pathophysiology of the disease. Neurophysiologic investigations of the upper and lower motor neurons/axons have shown increased excitability. The altered excitability is supposed to relate to motor neuron death. Based on these findings, a clinical trial of mexiletine (non-selective sodium channel blocker) is ongoing.
authors: Department of Neurology Graduate School of Medicine Chiba University.
authors: Kazumoto
authors: K
authors: Shibuya
authors: Sonoko
authors: S
authors: Misawa
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Kuwabara
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008801:Mexiletine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D061567:Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D061567:Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Blockers; D008801:Mexiletine