title: Stimulated jitter analysis for the evaluation of neuromuscular junction disorders in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stimulated jitter analysis (stim-JA) using a concentric needle electrode is a technique used to study the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) without voluntary activation. Our objective was to study the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and feasibility of stim-JA in infants and children with suspected NMJ defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen infants and young children ages 2 months to 17 years with suspected NMJ disorders were evaluated using stim-JA over a period of 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects with suspected NMJ defects and abnormal stim-JA subsequently had laboratory confirmation of myasthenia gravis (n = 5) and infant botulism (n = 2). Turnaround time for confirmatory laboratory tests was 6.0 ± 4.3 days, whereas stim-JA results were available immediately. All subjects tolerated stim-JA well without complications or need for sedation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stim-JA is a sensitive and safe first-line diagnostic test for evaluation of suspected pediatric NMJ disorders. Stim-JA results precede assay results and may guide early treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1605 Chantilly Drive NE, Suite 300, Atlanta, Georgia, 30324, USA.
authors.forename: Sumit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.affiliation: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004566:Electrodes; D004576:Electromyography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: SFEMG; congenital myasthenic syndrome; infant botulism; myasthenia gravis; neuromuscular junction; stimulated jitter analysis