Abstract
Electrodiagnostic studies include electromyography (EMG), electroneurography (ENG), and the study of late response. EMG is a diagnostic methodology that studies the electric activity of muscles. ENG (sensory and motor conduction studies) measures how fast the nerve conducts impulses. These studies are helpful in identifying and distinguishing muscle versus nerve disorders, mono- or multiple neuropathy versus polyneuropathy, and axonal neuropathy versus demyelinating neuropathy. The most important test in leprosy is electroneurography. Early leprosy neuropathy is characterized by ENG signs of mainly demyelinating damage, while late leprosy neuropathy produces different ENG signs in relation to the seriousness of the clinical picture and the sequelae of previous lesions. ENG confirms the diagnosis of neuropathy, and detects the affected nerve as well as early nerve involvement prior to clinical evidence. The localization of the lesion is necessary to facilitate further investigations such as echography and nuclear magnetic resonance or surgical interventions.
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References
Report from Ad Hoc Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology AIDS Task Force (1991) Research criteria for diagnosis of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Neurology 41:617–618
Further Reading
Kimura J (2001) Electrodiagnosis in diseases of nerve and muscle: principles and practice. Oxford University Press, New York
Sebille A (1978) Respective importance of different neve conduction velocities in leprosy. J Neurol Sci 38:89–95
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© 2012 Springer-Verlag Italia
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Reni, L. (2012). Electrodiagnostic Studies. In: Nunzi, E., Massone, C. (eds) Leprosy. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2376-5_18
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2376-5_18
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