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Electrophysiology of sensory neuropathies

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Sensory Neuropathies

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Summary

In sensory neuropathy maximal conduction velocity is a crude measure. Variations up to 10 m/s have to be considered normal. The relation to clinical impairment is poor in either axonal/neuronal lesions or demyelination as indicated by a small normal latency and a delayed broad polyphasic nerve action potential (NAP), respectively. Conduction block evaluated on NAP changes has not yet been established. Mild disorder of impulse conduction may be disclosed by evaluating a) conduction along long nerve segments studying the H-reflex or SSEP, b) late components of the averaged NAP which make > 10% of the main deflection, c) velocities of slow conducting fibers utilizing the collision technique or single motor unit excitation, or d) the relative refractory period following a test stimulus. Conduction studies of small fibers mediating slow pain, sudomotor or vasomotor activity need intrafascicular microelectrode recordings and are not yet applied as a routine diagnostic test.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany

    H. C. Hopf

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  1. H. C. Hopf
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, USA

    Arthur K. Asbury M.D.

  2. Klinisches Institut für Neurologie, AKH, Wien, Austria

    Herbert Budka

  3. Neurologischen Abteilung des Wilhelminenspitals, Wien, Austria

    Elfriede Sluga (em. Vorstand) (em. Vorstand)

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© 1995 Springer-Verlag Wien

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Hopf, H.C. (1995). Electrophysiology of sensory neuropathies. In: Asbury, A.K., Budka, H., Sluga, E. (eds) Sensory Neuropathies. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-6595-9_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-6595-9_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-211-82642-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-7091-6595-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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