Abstract
Objective: We aim to draw clinical-neurophysiological correlations in our cohort of patients affected by IgM-related neuropathy to investigate whether neurophysiological parameters may help differentiate the classical phenotype from atypical forms. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients with IgM-related neuropathy referred to our Institute from 1990 to 2011. All patients underwent extensive laboratory, clinical and neurophysiological evaluation. Results: A classic sensory-ataxic form was observed in 20 of 34 patients, while an atypical phenotype (multiple mononeuropathy, polyneuropathy with predominant motor impairment, painful small-fibre neuropathy) was identified in the remaining 14 cases. Nerve conduction studies revealed in almost all cases a pattern typical of demyelination. A reduced terminal latency index and a prolonged distal motor latency of median nerve, as well as a prolonged distal motor latency and a reduced motor conduction velocity of peroneal nerve when recorded from extensor digitorum brevis, were significantly associated with classic sensory-ataxic phenotype. Conversely, a compound muscle action potential amplitude reduction of peroneal nerve from the tibialis anterior, was mostly associated with atypical forms. Conclusions: No clear electrophysiological differences between classical forms and atypical cases can be identified in IgM-related neuropathy. Still, we demonstrated that demyelinating abnormalities are more often associated with classical phenotypes, while axonal impairment occurs more often in atypical clinical patterns. Significance: Performing correlations between clinical and neurophysiological findings in IgM-related neuropathy may help to better understand different disease mechanisms in this heterogeneous form of inflammatory neuropathy.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1899-1903 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Clinical Neurophysiology |
Volume | 124 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sep 2013 |
Keywords
- Anti-MAG
- Clinical phenotype
- Distal motor latency
- IgM-related neuropathy
- Neurophysiology
- Terminal latency index
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Neurology
- Physiology (medical)
- Sensory Systems