Progressive Muscular Atrophy

Progressive muscular atrophy (PMA) is a rare, sporadic, adult-onset motor neuron disease, clinically characterized by isolated lower motor neuron features; however, clinically evident upper motor neuron signs may emerge in some patients. Subclinical upper motor neuron involvement is identified pathologically, radiologically, and neurophysiologically in a substantial number of patients with PMA. Patients with subclinical upper motor neuron involvement do not fulfill the revised El Escorial criteria to participate in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis clinical trials. Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy is only marginally beneficial in a small subgroup of patients with lower motor neuron syndrome without conduction block.