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Turn/amplitude-analysis in subclinical myogenic lesions
1Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for research in epilepsy and neuromuscular disorders.
Objectives:
To investigate the accuracy of the turn/amplitude-analysis (TAA) in the detection of subclinical myogenic lesions, for which Duchenne (DMD) carriers were taken as a model.
Materials And Methods:
Conventional EMG (MUAP analysis) and the TAA with/without force monitoring were applied to the right brachial biceps and femoral rectus muscles of 26 healthy subjects, 11 possible DMD carriers and 5 obligate DMD carriers.
Results:
Conventional EMG was unspecifically abnormal in 4 possible and 2 obligate DMD carriers, neurogenic in 1 possible DMD carrier and myogenic in none of the DMD carriers. Mean turns/s (T/S), amplitude/turn (A/T) and the ratio (T/S:A/T) were not significantly different between controls and possible or between controls and obligate DMD carriers. With force monitoring, the ratio (T/S:A/T) was myogenic in 1 obligate DMD carrier at 20% of maximum (brachial biceps). One possible DMD carrier showed a neurogenic distribution of the single T/S-A/T pairs around the normal cloud at 60% of maximum (brachial biceps). Without force monitoring, the TAA was normal in all DMD carriers.
Conclusions:
TAA is of limited help in demonstrating subclinical myopathy, irrespective of whether it is carried out with or without force monitoring.