Focal sensory nerve abnormalities in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

• Published in: Journal of the neurological sciences Vol. 162; no. 2; pp. 189 - 193
• Main Authors: Schulte-Mattler, Wilhelm J., Jakob, Michael, Zierz, Stephan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier B.V 15.01.1999; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - pathology; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Carpal tunnel syndrome; Case-Control Studies; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Entrapment neuropathy; Female; Humans; Male; Median Nerve - pathology; Median Nerve - physiopathology; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neural Conduction - physiology; Neurology; Sensory nerve conduction; Sensory nerve pathology; Sensory Receptor Cells - pathology; Sensory Receptor Cells - physiopathology; Ulnar Nerve - pathology; Ulnar Nerve - physiopathology; Sensory nerve pathology; Carpal tunnel syndrome; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Entrapment neuropathy; Sensory nerve conduction; Human; Nervous system diseases; Central nervous system disease; Median nerve; Exploration; Sensory nerve; Degenerative disease; Conduction velocity; Spinal cord disease
• ISSN: 0022-510X; 1878-5883
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-510X(98)00321-9

Slowing of sensory nerve conduction is an unexplained finding in patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). To study the frequency of these abnormalities and to study if a predisposition to the development of entrapment neuropathies is causal, 23 patients with definite ALS and 23 age-matched healthy volunteers were investigated prospectively. Antidromic sensory and motor nerve conduction velocities (NCVs) were measured in ulnar and median nerves. Median sensory NCV was abnormally low in three patients if compared with the lower limit of the control group; and median sensory NCV was abnormally low in nine patients (six right, eight left hands) if compared with ipsilateral ulnar sensory NCV. Sensory nerve conduction data did not correlate with clinical findings, such as forearm weakness or usage of canes. Motor nerve conduction data did not correlate with sensory nerve conduction data, with the exception of distal motor latency of right median nerves, which correlated with right median sensory NCV. Our findings show how affection of sensory fibers of distal segments of median nerves can be detected in individual patients with ALS. Nerve entrapment may contribute to this affection, but it is not the only cause. This should be considered in discussions about diagnostic criteria for ALS.