Related Experiment Videos
Central motor conduction in human chronic Chagas' disease
M J Segura1, O M Genovese, E Segura
1Departamento Medicina, Orientacion Neurologia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidade de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Arquivos De Neuro-Psiquiatria
|March 1, 1994
Summary
Chronic Chagas
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
Background:
- Previous studies indicated spinal cord and sensory pathway involvement in chronic Chagas' disease.
- Recent research suggests central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities in patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the integrity of central motor pathways in chronic Chagas' disease patients.
- To compare motor pathway conduction with healthy controls using neurophysiological methods.
Main Methods:
- Percutaneous cortical and spinal electrical stimulation were used.
- Pyramidal tract (PT) conduction velocity was assessed in 46 patients and 30 healthy volunteers.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in pyramidal tract conduction slowness was observed between groups.
- No individual patient showed abnormally delayed PT conduction values.
Conclusions:
- Large myelinated fibers of the pyramidal tracts appear to be largely spared in chronic Chagas' disease.
- This contrasts with the known involvement of other neural systems in the disease.