Electromyography and clinical neurophysiology
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Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol · Jun 2000
Comparative StudyTwo consecutive fasciculation potentials having different motor unit origins are an electromyographically pathognomonic finding of ALS.
To electrophysiologically diagnose amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), fasciculation potentials (FPs) were evaluated in each wasted muscle in 12 ALS and 14 other neurogenic disorders (non-ALS patients). Various types of FPs were observed in ALS. ⋯ Although nine of 12 ALS patients showed two consecutive FPs having different motor unit origins, non-ALS patients did not show such FPs. Since the two consecutive FPs having different motor unit origins reflect an involvement of both upper and lower motor neurons, these potentials are an electrophysiologically pathognomonic finding to ALS.