Conduction and excitability properties of peripheral nerves in end-stage liver disease.

The pathophysiology of hepatic neuropathy is poorly understood, but membrane depolarization due to a toxic inhibition of oxidative metabolism has been proposed. We investigated the relationship between nerve excitability properties, nerve dysfunction, and liver function in 11 pretransplant patients, the majority of whom were oligo- or asymptomatic for peripheral neuropathy. Abnormalities were detected on clinical examination (6), large-fiber nerve conduction (4), and thermal quantitative sensory testing (10).

Nerve excitability changes in chronic renal failure indicate membrane depolarization due to hyperkalaemia.

Multiple nerve excitability measurements were used to investigate axonal membrane properties in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). Nine patients were studied during routine haemodialysis therapy. The median nerve was stimulated at the wrist and compound muscle action potentials recorded from abductor pollicis brevis.

Evidence for axonal membrane hyperpolarization in multifocal motor neuropathy with conduction block.

Multiple nerve excitability measurements were used to investigate axonal membrane properties of patients diagnosed with multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN). Six patients were selected, all with evidence of distal focal motor conduction block involving the median nerve in the forearm. In all patients, the median nerve was stimulated at the wrist, just distal to the site of block, and the resulting compound muscle action potentials were recorded from abductor pollicis brevis.