ABSTRACT
Objective To research the pathogeny and the electromyographic characteristics of myokymia.Methods The clinical features and electromyography of 42 elderly patients with myokymia were examined. Results Symptomatic myokymia (SM) in 27 cases was caused by low salt syndrome, thyrotoxemia, urinaemia, chronic wasting diseases (such as carcinoma of the stomach or liver), brachial plexus neuropathy, lead poisoning, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuritis, succinylcholine narcosis, restless leg syndrome or Isaac's syndrome.Symptomatic facial myokymia was caused by neoplasm of the brain stem or in posterior cranial fossa, multiple sclerosis or other causes. Primary myokymia ( PM ) in 15 cases involved idiopathic generalized and benign myokymia.Compared with PM, SM was more constant and powerful. Myokymia potential appeared in the electromyograms of 42 of the patients. The majority of patients with SM had accompanying myotonic discharge. Conclusion The pathogeny and electromyographic characteristics of symptomatic myokymia are different from the primary stage.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of peripheral neuropathy in patients with multiple sclerosis(MS).Methods As a total of 84 MS patients,the clinical and electrophysiological data were analyzed in 16 MS patients with the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy(PNMS group)and in 68 MS patients without peripheral neuropathy(NPNMS group).Results The incidence of peripheral neuropathy was 19.0%(16/84)in this group.The clinical symptoms included extremity numbness in 14 cases(87.5%),limb inertia in 12 cases(75.0%),and radicular pain in 4 cases(25.0%).Signs included decrease of tendon reflex in 15 cases(93.7%),periphery sensory disability in 13 cases(81.2%),and myatrophy in 5 cases(31.2%).The mean age in the PNMS group was(44.6?12.5)years vs.(32.2?11.5)years in the NPNMS group.The course of disease was(39.3?18.3)months vs.(31.6?17.2)months in the NPNMS group,there were significant differences in two groups(P