Computer-aided analysis of muscle fibre conduction velocity in neuromuscular diseases

• Published in: Neurological sciences Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 51 - 57
• Main Authors: Vogt, T. H., Fritz, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy Springer Nature B.V 01.04.2006
• Subjects: Action Potentials - physiology; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Electric Stimulation; Electrodes - standards; Electrodiagnosis - instrumentation; Electrodiagnosis - methods; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Motor Neuron Disease - diagnosis; Motor Neuron Disease - physiopathology; Muscle Contraction - physiology; Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch - physiology; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal - physiology; Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Muscular Diseases - diagnosis; Muscular Diseases - physiopathology; Neurology; Neuromuscular Diseases - diagnosis; Neuromuscular Diseases - physiopathology; Neurosciences; Predictive Value of Tests; Reference Values; Sex Characteristics; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted - instrumentation
• ISSN: 1590-1874; 1590-3478
• DOI: 10.1007/s10072-006-0569-z

The objective was to measure muscle fibre conduction velocity (MFCV) in the biceps brachii of normal subjects, and patients with mild myopathies and anterior horn cell diseases. Unisolated steel needles served as stimulation and recording electrodes. By aid of a computer program for data acquisition and analysis, up to 1,400 single fibre potentials could be recorded from a single muscle and analysed within 30-45 min. Normal values for mean, minimum, maximum CV and 5%, 25%, 75% and 95% percentiles were established. Females have slower mean and minimal CV than men but maximal MFCV were similar for the two groups. Age has no statistical influence. Myopathic patients showed a MFCV decrease of the already slow muscle fibre population. In neurogenetic diseases the distribution was biphasic with the conduction of the formerly fast conducting fibres either enhanced or reduced. Using different statistical parameters to describe the spectrum of muscle fibre conduction properties provides a sensitive tool to evaluate functional impairment in mild myopathies and to separate them from mild neuropathies.