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Somatosensory evoked response in controlled A-alpha sensory fiber disease

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Summary

In contrast to the distal sensory response, the somatosensory evoked response (SSER) is detectable in patients with A-alpha sensory fiber diseases such as Friedreich's ataxia.

In four patients with this disease a combined histological and electrophysiological investigation of sensory propagation was performed. The sural nerve was analyzed in terms of the various fiber diameters and the distal sensory and somatosensory evoked cortical responses recorded after sural and median nerve (finger) stimulation. A distinct evoked response could be detected with rather low amplitudes and retarded latency times, while in general no distal sensory response was found. The anatomical and physiological consequences are discussed.

Zusammenfassung

Im Gegensatz zu den sensiblen Nervenaktionspotentialen ist das Somato-sensible Evoked-Potential bei Patienten mit einer Friedreichschen Ataxie (eine A-alpha-sensible Nervenfasernerkrankung) gut zu erregen.

Bei vier Patienten mit dieser Erkrankung haben wir eine histologische und elektrophysiologische Untersuchung vorgenommen. Die N.-suralis- und N.-ulnaris-sensiblen Nervenaktionspotentiale und Evoked Response sind analysiert worden. Kombiniert hiermit wurde eine Analyse der Faserdurchschnitte einer N.-suralis-Biopsie durchgeführt. Die anatomischen und physiologischen Konsequenzen sind diskutiert worden.

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Colon, E., Joosten, E. & de Weerd, J. Somatosensory evoked response in controlled A-alpha sensory fiber disease. J. Neurol. 219, 273–278 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00312980

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