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Progressive sensory nerve dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a prospective clinical and neurophysiological study

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Abstract

Sensory nerve function was determined in 19 patients with amyotrophie lateral sclerosis (ALS), using a battery of clinical and neurophysiological tests. This assessment was repeated on 12 patients after intervals of 6–18 months. Twelve controls were also studied. In the ALS group, only 2 patients had noticed mild sensory symptoms and none had sensory signs. Between successive studies the vibration thresholds increased, but not to a significant degree. ALS patients showed a significant fall in amplitude of the sensory nerve action potentials in the median, radial, and sural nerves (P < 0.04); sensory nerve conduction velocity did not alter. The median nerve somatosensory evoked potential N19 latency showed a highly significant increase (P < 0.008). Significant subclinical deterioration in sensory nerve function occurs in ALS, and parallels the progressive motor decline. Neuronal degeneration in ALS is not restricted to motor neurons.

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  1. Department of Clinical Neurology, Radcliffe Infirmary, OX2 6HE, Oxford, UK

    Ralph Gregory, Kerry Mills & Michael Donaghy

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  1. Ralph Gregory
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  2. Kerry Mills
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  3. Michael Donaghy
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Gregory, R., Mills, K. & Donaghy, M. Progressive sensory nerve dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a prospective clinical and neurophysiological study. J Neurol 240, 309–314 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00838169

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00838169

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