Article

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a degenerative motor neuron disease (MND)
which prognosis is poor.
Early diagnosis permit to set up immediately adapted
treatment and cares. Available diagnostic criteria are based on the detection of
both central and peripheral motor neuron injury in bulbar, cervical, thoracic and
lumbar regions. Electrodiagnostic (EDX) tests are the key tools to identify
peripheral motor neuron involvement. Needle examination records abnormal
activities at rest, and looks for neurogenic pattern during muscle contraction.
Motor unit potentials morphology is modified primary to recruitment. Motor evoked
potentials remain the test of choice to identify impairment of central motor
neurons. In the absence of diagnostic biomarker of ALS and among essential
investigations of suspected MND, a careful clinical and neurophysiological
work-up is essential to rule out the differential diagnosis.
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Langue : ANGLAIS