Long-term neuromuscular outcomes of west nile virus infection: A clinical and electromyographic evaluation of patients with a history of infection.

Introduction: Neuromuscular clinical manifestations during acute West Nile virus (WNV) infection are well documented; however, long-term neurologic outcomes still require investigation.

Methods: We conducted a long-term follow-up study in patients with history of WNV infection. Of the 117 patients who participated in neurologic and neurocognitive evaluations, 30 were referred for neuromuscular and electrodiagnostic evaluation based on abnormal findings.

Dermatomyositis-associated sensory neuropathy: a unifying pathogenic hypothesis.

Neuropathy as extramuscular manifestation of dermatomyositis (DM) is controversial due to uncommon occurrence, heterogeneity of associated nerve pathology, and lack of unifying pathogenetic mechanism(s). We describe a patient with classic manifestations of DM and extramuscular manifestation of neuropathy. Nerve pathology showed deposits of terminal complement complex (C5b-9).

Sural sparing pattern discriminates Guillain-Barré syndrome from its mimics.

Introduction: Electrodiagnostic features of demyelination are essential for establishing the diagnosis in demyelinating subtypes of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), but they may also occur in disorders that mimic GBS clinically. Information about their frequency in GBS mimics is sparse.

Methods: Evaluation of electrodiagnostic features from 38 patients with suspected GBS in whom the diagnosis was later refuted (GBS mimics).

High resolution diffusion tensor imaging of human nerves in forearm.

Purpose: To implement high resolution diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for visualization and quantification of peripheral nerves in human forearm.

Materials And Methods: This HIPAA-compliant study was approved by our Institutional Review Board and written informed consent was obtained from all the study participants. Images were acquired with T1 -and T2 -weighted turbo spin echo with/without fat saturation, short tau inversion recovery (STIR).

Comparison of ring versus disposable disk electrodes in recording antidromic sensory median nerve conduction study for diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Purpose: The authors performed a study using disposable disk electrodes, currently used to record motor nerve conduction study, for median antidromic sensory recording from the second digit with the aim of establishing efficiency by using one type of electrode throughout the entire nerve conduction study. This study aims to establish noninferiority with the use of disk electrodes rather than conventionally used nondisposable ring electrodes in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Methods: For median sensory response, 4 parameters were studied: (1) onset latency, (2) peak latency, (3) amplitude, and (4) conduction velocity.

An unusual case of familial ALS and cerebellar ataxia.

We report a case of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) with clinical signs of cerebellar and posterior column involvement. The patient's work-up showed a known mutation (E100K) in the gene for Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). Our case illustrates that extramotor symptoms, such as prominent cerebellar signs, can be seen in patients with FALS.