Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other motor neuron disorders : official publication of the World Federation of Neurology, Research Group on Motor Neuron Diseases
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Amyotroph. Lateral Scler. Other Motor Neuron Disord. · Mar 2000
Case ReportsPathophysiological significance of fasciculations in the early diagnosis of ALS.
In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), muscles with preserved strength can have fasciculation potentials (FPs) as the only abnormality. The FPs in strong muscles are predominantly simple and stable, and can often be recruited by a slight voluntary contraction. In weak and atrophic muscles, the FPs are generally complex and unstable, tend to have a slower firing rate and are not recruited by voluntary contraction. ⋯ Some ALS patients with fatigue and mild weakness can have profuse fasciculations at an early phase in the evolution of the disease. Patients with denervation localized in one region and diffuse FPs should be strongly suspected of having ALS. With this strategy it should be possible to shorten the diagnosis time.