Linked Life Data

9270669

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/9270669

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
9
pubmed:dateCreated
1997-9-17
pubmed:abstractText
The pathogenesis of idiopathic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains unknown, but accumulating evidence suggests a neuroexcitotoxic mechanism may have some credence. Glutamate-induced hyperexcitability of cortical or spinal motoneurons may be expected to manifest itself as a reduced threshold for activation of these structures. We have measured corticomotor threshold to the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscles of 48 patients with sporadic ALS using magnetic brain stimulation and have correlated the findings with physical signs of upper and/or lower motor neuron degeneration. We find that if FDI in patients with ALS shows no weakness, wasting, or signs of an upper motor neuron lesion, mean corticomotor threshold is significantly lower than in 102 healthy control FDI muscles (P = 0.02). In contrast, FDI muscles showing signs of lower motor neuron degeneration only or mixed upper and lower motor neuron signs are associated with a raised corticomotor threshold (P = 0.008, P < 0.001, respectively). We conclude that early in ALS, at a time when hand muscle function is normal, corticomotor threshold is reduced and suggest that this may be a manifestation of abnormal excitability of cortical or spinal motoneurons to neurotransmitters, whose action will ultimately lead to cell death.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:commentsCorrections
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Sep
pubmed:issn
0148-639X
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
20
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1137-41
pubmed:dateRevised
2009-9-29
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1997
pubmed:articleTitle
Corticomotor threshold is reduced in early sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
pubmed:affiliation
University Department of Clinical Neurology, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, United Kingdom.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't