Subclinical neuropathy in children with inherited haemostasis disorders

Motor and sensory conduction of the right peroneal and sural nerves was studied in 28 children (17 HIV seropositive) with inherited hemostasis disorders, without any symptoms of neuropathy. The amplitude ratio of the evoked muscle potential (EMP) at distal stimulation to that at proximal stimulation at the right peroneal nerve was also studied. Thirty healthy aged-matched children were used as controls. There was no statistically significant difference in the distal latency, amplitude and conduction velocity of motor and sensory nerves between patients and controls. On the contrary, a great diminution of amplitude of the EMP during proximal stimulation of nerve was observed in patients, statistically very significant, as compared to controls. This difference was independent of patients' age, severity of hemostasis defect or HIV status. In 9 patients the amplitude was within normal limits. Intraneural oozing due to trivial trauma is postulated as a possible mechanism of peroneal nerve lesion.