Electromyography and muscle biopsy in chronic isolated Myalgia: A prospective study.
Chronic muscle pain affects approximately 10% of the general population. It is unknown whether electromyographic (EMG) examination or muscle biopsy is most useful in this situation.



In a 7-year, single-center prospective study we investigated the EMG and muscle pathology characteristics of patients with: (1) diffuse muscle pain lasting >1 year; (2) normal clinical examination; (3) normal extensive blood tests; and (4) no evidence of a coexisting disorder.



One hundred eighty consecutive patients were enrolled. In 178 patients (99%), EMG studies and muscle biopsies were normal. In 2 patients (1%), EMG studies demonstrated myotonia, and muscle biopsy showed mild myopathic features; 1 patient had myotonic dystrophy type 2, and the other had SCN4A-related muscle channelopathy.



In this prospective study, EMG was an excellent screening test for diagnosing muscle disease in clinically normal patients with chronic diffuse muscle pain, and muscle biopsy was not useful. Muscle Nerve 54: 321-324, 2016.
Département de Neurologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires, 1, Avenue Molière, 67098, Strasbourg, France.|Centre de Référence Neuromusculaire Grand Est, Hôpitaux Universitaires, Strasbourg, France.
Andoni
A
Echaniz-Laguna
Département de Neurologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires, 1, Avenue Molière, 67098, Strasbourg, France.|Centre de Référence Neuromusculaire Grand Est, Hôpitaux Universitaires, Strasbourg, France.
Jean-Baptiste
0000-0003-4221-3840
JB
Chanson
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D063806:Myalgia / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D065636:Myotonin-Protein Kinase / Q000235:genetics; D062553:NAV1.4 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel / Q000235:genetics; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
C433227:CNBP protein, human; D062553:NAV1.4 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C106251:SCN4A protein, human; D065636:Myotonin-Protein Kinase
SCN4A; electromyography; myalgia; myopathy; myotonic dystrophy type 2