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Abnormalities in cortical and peripheral excitability in flail arm variant amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  1. Steve Vucic1,
  2. Matthew C Kiernan2
  1. 1Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute and Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Australia
  2. 2Institute of Neurological Sciences, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, Sydney, Australia
  1. Correspondence to:
 Professor Matthew C Kiernan
 Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia; M.kiernan{at}unsw.edu.au

Abstract

Background: While some regard the flail arm syndrome as a variant of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), others have argued that it is a distinct clinical entity. Consequently, the present study applied novel central and peripheral nerve excitability techniques to further explore disease pathophysiology in flail arm syndrome.

Methods: Cortical and peripheral nerve excitability studies were undertaken in 11 flail arm patients, defined by muscle weakness limited to the proximal aspects of the upper limbs for at least 24 months.

Results: Mean age at disease onset (60.3 years) was similar to other ALS phenotypes (58.3 years), with strong male predominance (male:female distribution: flail arm 10:1; ALS 1.5:1; p<0.05) and prolonged disease duration (flail arm 62.5 months; ALS 15.8 months; p<0.05). There was evidence of cortical hyperexcitability in flail arm patients, similar to findings in ALS, with reduction in short interval intracortical inhibition (flail arm 0.8 (0.6)%; ALS 4.1 (1.1)%; controls 8.5 (1.0)%; p<0.0001) and resting motor threshold (flail arm 53.4 (2.8)%; ALS 56.6 (1.8)%; controls 60.7 (1.5)%; p<0.05), along with an increase in motor evoked potential amplitude (flail arm 49.5 (9.0)%; ALS 44.4 (4.9)%; controls 25.8 (2.8)%; p<0.05). Peripheral nerve excitability studies demonstrated changes consistent with upregulation in persistent Na+ currents and reduction of slow K+ conductances, similar to findings in ALS.

Conclusion: This study has demonstrated the presence of cortical hyperexcitability in flail arm syndrome, along with abnormalities in peripheral nerve excitability, findings consistent with previous studies in other ALS phenotypes. By demonstrating the presence of upper motor neuron dysfunction, the present study suggests that the flail arm syndrome is an unusual variant of ALS.

  • ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • ALSFRS-R, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised
  • CMAP, compound muscle action potential
  • MEP, motor evoked potential
  • SICI, short interval intracortical inhibition
  • UMN, upper motor neuron

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Footnotes

  • Published Online First 10 January 2007

  • Competing interests: None.

  • This study was presented in part at the 18th World Congress of Neurology, Australia and the 16th International Symposium on ALS/MND, Republic of Ireland.

    Informed consent was obtained for publication of fig 1.