Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 77, Issue 11 , Pages 1186-1188, November 1996

Coexistent entrapment neuropathies in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis☆

  • Milind J. Kothari, DO

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests to Milind J. Kothari, DO, Division of Neurology, Penn State University, College of Medicine, PO Box 850, Hershey, PA 17033.
    • Division of Neurology, College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA USA
    • ,
  • Seward B. Rutkove, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
    • ,
  • Eric L. Logigian, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
    • ,
  • Jeremy M. Shefner, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA

Received 8 January 1996; accepted 1 April 1996.

Article Outline

Abstract 

Objective: To determine the incidence of entrapment neuropathy in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Although it is well known that patients with motor neuron disease may have coexisting focal neuropathies, their prevalence has not been previously determined.

Methods: Electrophysiologic studies (EMG/NCS) were reviewed from 126 patients with ALS seen at a university-affiliated hospital from 1991 to 1994. Every patient had an EMG/ NCS consistent with motor neuron disease (ie, active and chronic denervation in at least 3 body regions).

Results: Forty-three percent (54 patients) had evidence of a neuropathy. Abnormalities included median neuropathy at the wrist in 15 (12%), ulnar neuropathy at the elbow in 18 (14%), nonlocalized ulnar neuropathy in 10 (8%), and peroneal neuropathy at the fibular head in 2 (2%). Furthermore, 9 patients (7%) had a superimposed polyneuropathy. Of these 54 patients, 7 (13%) had clinical symptoms of their neuropathy.

Conclusions: Coexistent focal or generalized neuropathies in ALS are not uncommon. Careful attention to these abnormalities may decrease morbidity in these patients.

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☆ No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors or upon any organization with which the authors are associated.

PII: S0003-9993(96)90146-X

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 77, Issue 11 , Pages 1186-1188, November 1996

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