Electromyography to Diagnose Neuromuscular Disorders

Healthy Clinical Trial

Official title:

Diagnosis of Neuromuscular Disorders With Specialized Electromyographic Studies

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00004553
• Other study ID #: 000072
• Secondary ID: 00-N-0072
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: February 4, 2000
• Last updated: March 3, 2008
• Start date: February 2000
• Est. completion date: November 2005

Study information

• Verified date: November 2005
• Source: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Federal Government
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This study will investigate problems with muscle weakness and control using electromyography-a test of nerve-muscle cell communication. Advanced techniques called single fiber electromyography and macro-electromyography, which evaluate individual muscle fibers, will be used. Besides aiding in diagnosis, these tests provide information about disease progression that may be useful in guiding therapy.

Adult patients with suspected neurological disorders of muscle control and weakness may be eligible for this study. Normal volunteers may also participate. For the electromyography procedure, a special needle is inserted into a muscle. The patient will slightly tense the muscle and maintain the tension while electrical signals from the muscle fibers are being recorded. The electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker, providing feedback to help the patient tense the muscle the appropriate amount. The test, which is usually done for only one muscle, takes 1 to 2 hours. If needed, short breaks can be taken.

If the patient cannot maintain tension in the muscle for the entire test period, a nerve will be stimulated to activate the muscle. A thin needle is inserted near the nerve, and a series of small electrical shocks are given to activate a nerve fiber. The electromyography needle is inserted into the muscle to measure the response, as described above.

A neurologist receiving specialized training in clinical neurophysiology will do the electromyography procedure under the direct supervision of an experienced neurologist.

Description:

This is a training protocol to enable fellows in clinical neurophysiology to learn and perform technically advanced electrodiagnostic studies, such as single fiber EMG and macro EMG, on patients with neuromuscular diseases.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 30
• Est. completion date: November 2005
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: N/A and older

Eligibility

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Adult patients with weakness or motor dysfunction: 8/year.

Normal volunteers, adults: 2/year.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Anticoagulation or uncorrected bleeding disorder.

Children are not optimal subjects for fellows undergoing training in these techniques and will be excluded.

Study Design

N/A

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Healthy
• Neuromuscular Disease
• Neuromuscular Diseases
• Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome

Intervention

Procedure:
• Electromyography

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)	Bethesda	Maryland

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (2)

Grimby G, Stålberg E, Sandberg A, Sunnerhagen KS. An 8-year longitudinal study of muscle strength, muscle fiber size, and dynamic electromyogram in individuals with late polio. Muscle Nerve. 1998 Nov;21(11):1428-37. — View Citation

Sanders DB, Stålberg EV. AAEM minimonograph #25: single-fiber electromyography. Muscle Nerve. 1996 Sep;19(9):1069-83. Review. — View Citation