title: CMAP decrement as a potential diagnostic marker for ALS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We previously reported that decrement of compound muscle action potential (CMAP) by repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) was greater in the median nerves than in the ulnar nerves of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether CMAP decrement by RNS is a feasible marker for the differentiation of ALS from other diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed RNS in the median and ulnar nerves of 51 patients with ALS and 40 patients with other diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CMAP decrement was significantly greater in the median nerves of patients with ALS, compared to the disease control patients. In the median nerves of patients with ALS, CMAP decrement was significantly greater in the cervical region-onset group than in the other region-onset group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The finding of CMAP decrement in the median nerves can be useful for differentiating ALS patients with cervical region onset from other controls with active neuropathic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tawara
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Misumi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ando
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; biological marker; decremental motor response; pathophysiology; repetitive nerve stimulation