PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Nidhi Garg AU - Susanna B Park AU - Steve Vucic AU - Con Yiannikas AU - Judy Spies AU - James Howells AU - William Huynh AU - José M Matamala AU - Arun V Krishnan AU - John D Pollard AU - David R Cornblath AU - Mary M Reilly AU - Matthew C Kiernan TI - Differentiating lower motor neuron syndromes AID - 10.1136/jnnp-2016-313526 DP - 2016 Dec 21 TA - Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry PG - jnnp-2016-313526 4099 - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/early/2016/12/21/jnnp-2016-313526.short 4100 - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/early/2016/12/21/jnnp-2016-313526.full AB - Lower motor neuron (LMN) syndromes typically present with muscle wasting and weakness and may arise from pathology affecting the distal motor nerve up to the level of the anterior horn cell. A variety of hereditary causes are recognised, including spinal muscular atrophy, distal hereditary motor neuropathy and LMN variants of familial motor neuron disease. Recent genetic advances have resulted in the identification of a variety of disease-causing mutations. Immune-mediated disorders, including multifocal motor neuropathy and variants of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, account for a proportion of LMN presentations and are important to recognise, as effective treatments are available. The present review will outline the spectrum of LMN syndromes that may develop in adulthood and provide a framework for the clinician assessing a patient presenting with predominantly LMN features.