Clinical and electrodiagnostic findings in copper deficiency myeloneuropathy
Introduction: Copper deficiency is an increasingly recognised cause of neurological impairment. This retrospective review highlights clinical and electrodiagnostic findings in patients diagnosed at our institution with copper deficiency. Methods: Clinical, radiographic and electrodiagnostic findings...
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Published in | Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry Vol. 80; no. 5; pp. 524 - 527 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
London
BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
01.05.2009
BMJ Publishing Group BMJ Publishing Group LTD |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Introduction: Copper deficiency is an increasingly recognised cause of neurological impairment. This retrospective review highlights clinical and electrodiagnostic findings in patients diagnosed at our institution with copper deficiency. Methods: Clinical, radiographic and electrodiagnostic findings were reviewed in patients with evidence of copper deficiency. Patients with other potential causes of myelopathy or neuropathy were excluded. Results: The predominant clinical feature in all six patients was a sensory ataxia, resulting in marked gait unsteadiness. Nerve conduction studies and needle EMG were performed in all patients and revealed a mild to moderate distal, axonal, sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy. Median and tibial somatosensory evoked potentials were abnormal in all five patients in which it was performed, showing impaired conduction in central or proximal peripheral somatosensory pathways. Conclusions: This pattern of electrodiagnostic findings suggests that impairment in somatosensory pathways demonstrated by somatosensory evoked potential testing is the main cause of the sensory ataxia in patients with copper deficiency. |
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Bibliography: | local:jnnp;80/5/524 istex:269EF2BA9061E9FE1B29F7884FE03446FE6255DF ark:/67375/NVC-6X0FN64H-J ArticleID:jn144683 PMID:18495738 href:jnnp-80-524.pdf ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0022-3050 1468-330X |
DOI: | 10.1136/jnnp.2008.144683 |