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Utility of electrodiagnostic studies in patients referred with a diagnosis of polyneuropathy
Matthew R Ginsberg1, John A Morren1
1Neuromuscular Center, Neurological Institute-Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.
Background:
Peripheral polyneuropathies (PN) are common neuromuscular conditions. The role of electrodiagnostic study (EDX) in diagnosis of PN is not well-defined.
Methods:
We performed a retrospective chart review of patients referred for EDX evaluation of PN.
Results:
Of 162 patients analyzed, 23 had pure peripheral neuropathy (pPN; 14.2%), 29 had peripheral neuropathy and another diagnosis (PN+; 17.9%), 51 had an alternative diagnosis (nonPN; 31.5%), and 59 had normal studies (36.4%). In univariable analysis, age (P < .001) and gender (P = .004) were weakly associated with final diagnosis. In multinomial logistic regression analysis, significant predictors included age (odds ratio [OR] for nonPN/PN+:1.07 per year; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.11), gender (OR for PN+:0.2, 95% CI, 0.07-0.61), and diabetes/prediabetes (OR for pPN:3.29; 95% CI, 1.17-9.27).
Conclusions:
These data suggest that EDX commonly yields additional or nonPNs in patients referred with a diagnosis of PN, and although some variables predict electrodiagnosis, none have a large enough effect to suggest poor utility in any subpopulation.
