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Analysis of clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of 150 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in China

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Abstract

Objective

To explore the relationship between the clinical onset locations and the electrophysiological characteristics of different spinal segments in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. To develop a rapid examination method using electromyographs (EMGs) for the diagnosis of ALS.

Methods

The clinical symptoms and electrodiagnostic examination results of 150 patients with definite or probable ALS were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into four groups according to the primary onset locations (arms and legs onset, arms onset, legs onset, and bulbar onset groups). The differences between the onset locations and the electrophysiological characteristics revealed the lower motor neuron dysfunction in EMGs.

Results

The most affected onset location was the lower limbs (36.7%), particularly in the distal muscles. Nerve conduction showed that the sensory system was damaged in 22 patients (14.7%). The positive diagnostic rate of EMGs varied due to different onset locations. EMG abnormalities were seen in approximately 40% of asymptomatic limb muscles. Distal limb muscles showed higher electrodiagnostic sensitivity (78.4%) than proximal limb muscles. Cervical muscles showed the highest electrodiagnostic sensitivity (86.3%).

Conclusions

The sensory system in ALS patients was commonly impaired. Cervical muscles showed the highest electrodiagnostic sensitivity. The highest positive rate was generated from detecting the spinal segment onset and the special distal muscles onset ALS in our optimized test method. Through this improved examination based on the most affected individual muscles, physicians can greatly optimize the test duration and significantly reduce patient discomfort.

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Acknowledgments

I would like to thank my leader and colleagues for helpful discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Qingdao), No. 758, Hefei Road, Shibei District, Qingdao, 266035, Shandong, China

    Jie Liu, Xuehua Zhang, Xiaojun Ding, Min Song & Kexu Sui

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  1. Jie Liu
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  2. Xuehua Zhang
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  3. Xiaojun Ding
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  4. Min Song
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  5. Kexu Sui
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jie Liu.

Ethics declarations

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Qingdao), China. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Liu, J., Zhang, X., Ding, X. et al. Analysis of clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of 150 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in China. Neurol Sci 40, 363–369 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-018-3633-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-018-3633-6

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