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Motor neuron disease after electric injury
H Jafari1, P Couratier, W Camu
1Fédération de Neurologie, Hôpital Gui de Chauliac, CHU de Montpellier, 34 295 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|July 19, 2001
Summary
Electrical injuries may be linked to motor neuron disease (MND). This study reports six cases, with disease onset at the electrical trauma site, suggesting a potential association, though bulbar onset remains uncertain.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Environmental Medicine
Background:
- Motor neuron disease (MND) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition.
- The potential link between electrical injury and MND is an area of ongoing research.
- Previous literature has not extensively documented cases of MND following electrical trauma.
Observation:
- Six patients (five male, one female) developed motor neuron disease after electrical injury (lightning or industrial shock).
- Disease onset occurred at the site of electrical trauma in all patients.
- The mean delay between electrical injury and MND onset was 44 months.
Findings:
- Five patients presented with spinal onset MND; four showed slow progression, one showed improvement.
- One patient experienced bulbar onset MND, with rapid progression and death within 26 months.
- The consistent presentation in spinal cases suggests a potential link between electrical shock and MND.
Implications:
- The findings suggest a possible etiological link between electrical injury and motor neuron disease, particularly spinal onset.
- The bulbar onset case warrants further investigation due to its atypical presentation and potential for coincidental association.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this potential association and to confirm the link in bulbar onset cases.