ABSTRACT
The results of subclinical brain damage study of 20 patients with inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, aged 46.5 +/- 3.7 years, are presented. Eleven patients were diagnosed to have Guillain--Barre syndrome and 9--chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. No clinical systems for central nervous system damage were found. Magnetic resonance tomography defected demyelination foci in periventricular and sub-cortical brain regions in 35% of the patients and diffuse atrophic process--in 55%. Registration of brainstem acoustic-evoked potentials showed bilateral latency increase and a change of a signal shape in 60% of the patients. Possible mechanisms of combined damage of central and peripheral nervous system in this pathology are discussed.
Subject(s)
Brain/pathology , Demyelinating Diseases/pathology , Polyneuropathies/pathology , Atrophy , Brain/diagnostic imaging , Demyelinating Diseases/cerebrospinal fluid , Demyelinating Diseases/diagnosis , Demyelinating Diseases/etiology , Female , Guillain-Barre Syndrome/cerebrospinal fluid , Guillain-Barre Syndrome/etiology , Guillain-Barre Syndrome/pathology , Humans , Inflammation , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Male , Middle Aged , Polyneuropathies/cerebrospinal fluid , Polyneuropathies/etiology , RadiographyABSTRACT
The aim of the investigation was to determine electroneuromyographic diagnostic criteria of conduction block (CB) and temporal dispersion on the basis of 78 healthy volunteers and 82 patients with alcoholic polyneuropathy examination. We investigated motor fiber ulnar, median, peroneal and tibial nerves on distal segments of extremities at the level of forearm and leg, respectively. We determined a percentage of the maximal degree of negative peak (NP) and "peak to peak" amplitude reduction, the NP area and the total M-response as well as the degree of NP duration increase and the total M-response obtained from proximal nerve stimulation point versus to distal one. The area of M-response was shown to be the less changeable index, while the degree of amplitude, area and M-response duration changes depended on the nerve studied. The greatest changes of these parameters were revealed during a tibial nerve study in the controls and in the patients with alcohol polyneuropathy. The CB presence proves being identified when the proximal NP area reduction and the total M-response is over than 30 and 35%, respectively. The temporal dispersion can be confirmed if NP duration increase is over than 30%. CB is likely suspected when the proximal NP area and the total M-response reduction is greater than 20 and 25% for the peroneal, ulnar and median nerves.
Subject(s)
Alcoholic Neuropathy/complications , Alcoholic Neuropathy/physiopathology , Evoked Potentials, Motor/physiology , Adult , Aged , Electromyography , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nerve Fibers/physiology , Peripheral Nerves/physiopathology , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The results of the observation of 44 patients with cerebellar syndrome of different etiology are presented. Together with careful study of anamnestic and clinical data some additional examinations were performed: senso- and pallesthesiometry, thermovisional investigation, vestibulometry, electroencephalo-, electromyography, computer tomography. The study allowed to reveal both the cause of the disease and to refer etiologically late cerebellar cortical ataxia to alcohol factor. On the basis of the comparison of clinical neurological data with paraclinical observation differential diagnostic criteria were defined for Marie-Foix-Alajouanine's late cortical cerebellar atrophy in alcoholism, in the cases of the hereditary predisposition as well as of unclear genesis, in Holmes olivocerebellar atrophy, in Menzel, Hunt and Déjérine-Thomas olivopontocerebellar degeneration.
Subject(s)
Cerebellar Cortex/pathology , Adult , Aged , Alcoholism/complications , Atrophy/diagnosis , Atrophy/etiology , Cerebellar Ataxia/diagnosis , Cerebellar Ataxia/etiology , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Olivopontocerebellar Atrophies/diagnosis , Olivopontocerebellar Atrophies/etiology , Spinocerebellar Degenerations/diagnosis , Spinocerebellar Degenerations/etiology , SyndromeABSTRACT
Hyperventilation has been employed in the examination of 36 patients with brain stem injuries of various origin in order to identify and record nystagmus. The use of this method has increased the rate of visualization of the abnormality.
Subject(s)
Brain Stem , Nystagmus, Pathologic/diagnosis , Adult , Aged , Brain Diseases/diagnosis , Brain Diseases/etiology , Cervical Vertebrae , Electronystagmography , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Multiple Sclerosis/diagnosis , Osteochondritis/complications , Osteochondritis/diagnosis , Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency/diagnosisABSTRACT
Using a tonal audiometer, the parameters of vibrational sensitivity (in decibels) were investigated in 50 patients with traumatic damage to the peripheral nerves of the extremities. The results reflected the severity of neural damage and also the degree of the restoration of neural functions following surgical or conservative treatment.
