• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2012

Objectives : QT interval prolongation and dispersion known as indicators of an increased risk for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death have been reported to be prolonged in patients with anorexia nervosa. The aims of this study were to compare conduction abnormalities in Korean patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, and to examine its relation with clinical and laboratory factors. Methods : We retrospectively examined 45 women with anorexia nervosa and 75 women with bulimia nervosa who were assessed by 12-lead electrocardiogram at baseline. QT interval and corrected QT interval, QT dispersion of the difference between the longest and shortest QT intervals, and abnormal U wave were measured for conduction abnormalities. Results : QT interval was significantly longer in patients with anorexia nervosa compared with those with bulimia nervosa. There were no differences in QTc (Corrected QT), QTd (QT dispersion) and abnormal U wave between patients with anorexia nervosa and those with bulimia nervosa. QTd was significantly correlated with the lowest ever lifetime body mass index ($kg/m^2$) as well as the serum amylase level in patients with anorexia nervosa. Conclusions : These results suggest some conduction abnormalities reported in patients with anorexia nervosa are also found in patients with bulimia nervosa. It appears that severity of weight loss and purging behavior could affect the cardiac arrhythmia in patients with eating disorders. Appropriate attention should be paid to cardiac involvement in patients with eating disorders.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2004

Backgrounds and objectives: POEMS (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein, and skin changes) syndrome is the rare cause of polyneuropathy. Although the polyneuropathy is essential for the diagnosis of the disease, the pattern of electrodiagnostic abnormalities has not been characterized in detail. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the features of nerve conduction abnormalities in POEMS syndrome. Methods: We reviewed the medical records and nerve conduction studies (NCS) of 12 consecutive patients with POEMS. Results: A total of 68 motor and 46 sensory nerves were examined. Compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) and sensory nerve action potentials were abnormally attenuated or not elicited in majority of motor and sensory nerves (80.88% in motor, and 82.6% in sensory nerves). Frequency of the nerves with no potential was significantly higher in lower limbs than in upper limbs (p<0.01 in both motor and sensory nerves), and CMAP amplitude was more reduced in lower limbs than in upper limbs (p<0.01). Conduction slowing was very frequently observed with 95% and 76% of motor and sensory nerves, respectively, having the abnormally reduced values of conduction velocity. Distal motor latencies were abnormally prolonged in 75% of motor nerves, and terminal latency indices were significantly higher in patients than in normal controls (p < 0.05). Conduction block was observed only in 5% of motor nerves. Conclusions: NCS in POEMS syndrome showed characteristic patterns, in which conduction abnormalities were more frequently and severely affected in the lower limbs, and more predominantly in the intermediate nerve segments than in the distal portions. The recognition of these characteristic patterns may be helpful in early diagnosis of polyneuropathy in POEMS syndrome.

• Journal of Electrodiagnosis and Neuromuscular Diseases
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.148-152
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• 2018

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is an autosomal dominant multisystem disorder and one of the most common muscular dystrophies affecting adults. Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, a common hereditary neuropathy, is characterized by atrophy of the distal limbs and peripheral nerve abnormalities. The authors report a rare case involving a 24-year-old female who was diagnosed simultaneously with both DM1 and CMT1A based on the results of a nerve conduction study (NCS). The patient, who had previously been diagnosed with DM1, was admitted for lower extremity pain. Her electrodiagnostic examination continued to reveal severe sensorimotor demyelinating polyneuropathy, and a genetic study was performed to confirm whether she had other hereditary neuropathies, except DM1, that suggested CMT1A, the most common phenotype of CMT. Severe abnormalities in an NCS in a DM1 patient may suggest the incidental coexistence of hereditary neuropathies, and further evaluations, such as genetic studies, should be performed for proper diagnosis.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.102-105
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• 2006

We present a case with stepwise weakness and sensory involvement of both hands for more than 2 months. His nerve conduction study findings revealed prolonged terminal latencies, decreased motor and sensory conduction velocities and conduction blocks of both ulnar nerves, more severely on left side. And there were other abnormalities manifested with mononeuropathy multiplex. Increased cerebrospinal fluid protein was found. We diagnosed him as Lewis-Sumner syndrome and tried high dose oral steroid therapy for 2 months. He showed improvement of motor functioning with persistent conduction block.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.34-37
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• 2002

Background : The term "mononeuropathy multiplex" means simultaneous or sequential involvement of individual noncontiguous nerve trunks, evolving over days to years. The aim of this study was to delineate the causes, clinical features, and detailed electrophysiological findings in the patients with mononeuropathy multiplex. Methods : We analyzed the medical records of 22 patients with mononeuropathy multiplex confirmed on electrophysiological studies in Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, Seoul Municipal Boramae Hospital, and Seoul National University Hospital between 1991 to 2000. Results : The number of male and female patients was equal. The mean age was 48 years with a peak incidence in the sixth decade. The etiology could be divided into vasculitis(11 patients) or non-vasculitis group. In vasculitis group, Churg-Strauss syndrome, polyarteritis nodosa, and rheumatoid arthritis were included. The non-vasculitis group included diabetes mellitus, leprosy, and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Ulnar and median nerves were most commonly involved(91%). In descending order of frequency, peroneal, posterior tibial, sural, and radial nerves were also involved. Bilateral involvement occurred most commonly in ulnar nerve. The symptoms and signs of mononeuropathy multiplex were the initial manifestations in 12 patients(55%), which was more frequent in vasculitis group(73%). Nerve conduction abnormalities could be divided into axonal, demyelinating, or mixed type. Most(91%) of the patients in vasculitis group revealed axonal type abnormalities. The location of the nerve lesion was frequently related to potential site of entrapment in demyelinating type. Conclusions : Mononeuropathy multiplex is the presenting features of the etiological disease frequently, especially in vasculitis group. Nerve conduction studies(NCS) reveals not only axonal type but also demyelinating type abnormalities. The etiological diseases were different in each type. Therefore, NCS is very helpful for the early etiological diagnosis and therapeutic implication in the patients with mononeuropathy multiplex.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.680-687
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• 2010

Patients with congenital heart diseases (CHD) are confronted with early- and late-onset complications, such as conduction disorders, arrhythmias, myocardial dysfunction, altered coronary flow, and ischemia, throughout their lifetime despite successful hemodynamic and/or anatomical correction. Rhythm disturbance is a well-known and increasingly frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with CHD. Predisposing factors to rhythm disturbances include underlying cardiac defects, hemodynamic changes as part of the natural history, surgical repair and related scarring, and residual hemodynamic abnormalities. Acquired factors such as aging, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and others may also contribute to arrhythmogenesis in CHD. The first step in evaluating arrhythmias in CHD is to understand the complex anatomy and to find predisposing factors and hemodynamic abnormalities. A practical stepwise approach can lead to diagnosis and prompt appropriate interventions. Electrophysiological assessment and management should be done with integrated care of the underlying heart defects and hemodynamic abnormalities. Catheter ablation and arrhythmia surgery have been increasingly applied, showing increasing success rates with technological advancement despite complicated arrhythmia circuits in complex anatomy and the difficulty of access. Correction of residual hemodynamic abnormalities may be critical in the treatment of arrhythmia in patients with CHD.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.10 no.10
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• pp.237-245
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• 2010

Nerve conduction studies (NCS) are the most objective measure of nerve function and essential for the diagnosis of sub-clinical neuropathy in diabetes mellitus and diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN). This study evaluates the characteristic of electrophysiological abnormalities in DPN. Electrodiagnostic data from 120 patients with diabetic polyneuropathies and 77 control subjects were reviewed. Motor nerve conduction velocities (MNCV), distal motor latencies (DML), compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitudes, No potential frequency and conduction block were analyzed. Data were normalized based on normative reference values, and the proportion of nerves with abnormal values in the lower and upper limbs were evaluated. DPN was systemic demyelinating peripheral polyneuropathy and more severe abnormal nerve conduction was found in lower limbs than in upper limbs. The abnormal degree was more severe in peroneal nerve. It was no statistically significant difference of conduction block in control and DPN group. Our findings suggest that DPN had more common and severe peroneal nerve involvement in the motor nerve conduction studies (MNCS). These findings have important implications for the electrophysiological evaluation of DPN.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 2017

Background: Routine nerve conduction study (NCS) can only be used to evaluate the function of large fibers, and the results of NCS are often normal in patients with distal sensory polyneuropathy. The measurement of the current perception threshold (CPT) has been reported to represent a variety of peripheral nerve fiber functions. This study was performed to investigate the value of measuring CPT in patients with diabetic sensory polyneuropathy who have no abnormalities in routine NCS. Methods: Twenty-seven diabetic patients with sensory polyneuropathy and normal routine NCS and 18 age-matched control subjects participated in this study. The CPT was measured on the unilateral index finger and great toe of each subject at frequencies of 5 Hz, 250 Hz, and 2,000 Hz. Results: CPT values were significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group, especially with stimuli at the lowest frequency of 5 Hz (p < 0.05). There were significant correlations between the CPT values obtained at three different frequencies in the patient group, whereas the correlation was only significant in the pair of 250 Hz/5 Hz (both in the hands and feet), and in the pair of 2,000 Hz/250 Hz (in the feet) for the control group. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the CPT test, especially at a stimuli frequency of 5 Hz, may be a useful screening tool for diabetic polyneuropathy in patients who show no abnormalities in routine NCS.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.103-106
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• 2018

A 12-year-old castrated male Shih Tzu presented with suspected hearing loss. The patient had no history of head trauma or exposure to ototoxic drugs. The results of neurologic and physical examinations were normal. An otoscopic examination showed that both the tympanic membranes and the external ear canals had a normal appearance. However, the results of brainstem auditory evoked response tests confirmed sensorineural deafness in the right ear and indicated conduction disturbances and brainstem abnormalities in the left ear. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed to confirm the causes of the conduction disturbances and brainstem abnormalities. Inflammatory changes in the left middle ear were highly suspected to be responsible for the findings in the left ear. The results of these examinations confirmed complete hearing loss in the right ear and indicated otitis media in the left ear, which could have been the cause of the conduction disturbances.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2014

Background: Early detection of neuropathy may prevent further progression of this complication in the diabetic patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of early neuropathic complication in patients with newly diagnosed type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Methods: Nerve conduction studies (median, ulnar, posterior tibial, peroneal, and sural nerves) were performed for 49 type 1 (27 males, mean $14.1{\pm}7.5$ years) and 40 type 2 (27 males, $42.0{\pm}14.1$ years) diabetic patients at onset of diabetes. Children with age at onset under 4 years and adults over 55 years were excluded to eliminate the aging effect and the influence of obstructive arteriosclerosis. Neuropathy was defined as abnormal nerve conduction findings in two or more nerves including the sural nerve. Results: Mean HbA1c level was $12.6{\pm}3.3%$ for type 1 and $10.5{\pm}2.9%$ for type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of neuropathy was 12.2% for type 1, and 35.0% for type 2 diabetes, respectively. There were significant trends in the prevalence of neuropathy with increasing age (p<0.05). The effect of the mean level of glycosylated hemoglobin on the prevalence of polyneuropathy at onset of diabetes was borderline (p=0.0532). Neither sex of the patients nor the type of diabetes affected the neurophysiologic abnormalities at the diagnosis. Conclusions: Even in a population with diabetes at the diagnosis, the prevalence of subclinical neuropathy was not low. Neuropathy has been significantly associated with increasing age indicating the possibility of longer duration of undetected diabetes among them, especially in type 2 diabetes.