Capillary permeability in ALS, determined through transcapillary escape rate of 125I-albumin

Since various macromolecules have experimentally been demonstrated to be taken up by the motor end-plates and subsequently transported through retrograde axoplasmic flow, noxious substances may gain entrance to the lower motorneurons through the same route. Consequently, the function of the capillary barrier in skeletal muscle is of interest in diseases of the lower motorneurons. The transcapillary escape of 125I-albumin was determined in six ALS patients. The values fell within the range earlier reported for normals.