PMID: 9553744Apr 29, 1998Paper

Quantitative electromyographical changes in cervical dystonia after treatment with botulinum toxin

Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology
A Fuglsang-FrederiksenH Winkel

Abstract

Injection of botulinum toxin (BT) into affected neck muscles gives symptomatic relief to patients with cervical dystonia by causing a presynaptic block of acetylcholine release. In a retrospective study of 19 patients, we used the turns-amplitude analysis of the EMG interference pattern for the evaluation of electrophysiological changes as a function of time after BT treatment. EMG was performed immediately before and during injection, and muscles showing abnormally increased activity (> 100 turns/s at rest) were given botulinum toxin A (Oculinum (= Botox)) 40-120 units. A second EMG was done 6-30 weeks later. At attempted rest, the sternocleidomastoid muscle contralateral to the involuntary head rotation showed the most pronounced changes, possibly due to relatively large doses of BT, and the EMG changes were related to the time after BT treatment. Six weeks after treatment the muscle showed decreased turns/s, mean amplitude and ratio (turns/amplitude) at rest. At 30 weeks, turns and mean amplitude reached values as before treatment, while ratio was increased to 175% of the pre-treatment value. This pattern may reflect a reversible and random loss of muscles fibres, due to presynaptic denervation. At maximal voluntary contract...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Botulism (ASM)

Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. Discover the latest research on botulism here.

Botulism

Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. Discover the latest research on botulism here.

Related Papers

Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology
L OstergaardH Winkel
Clinical Neurophysiology : Official Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology
J ErdalL Regeur
Clinical Neurophysiology : Official Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology
J StrempelH Feistner
European Journal of Neurology : the Official Journal of the European Federation of Neurological Societies
D Dressler
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved