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Biomedical subjects

T López-Alburquerque

Publications and source records attributed to T López-Alburquerque.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

[Complete axonotmesis of the axillary nerve in relation to microtrauma].

INTRODUCTION: The axillary nerve is injured in many clinical situations, mainly in major surgical or traumatic lesions of the shoulder. Equally, it may be found in the context of microtraumatisms or compressive mechanisms. Amyotrophic neuralgia is a clinical entity with pain and later atrophy of the muscle which affects various nerves and nerve groups, as shown by neurophysiological studies. CASE REPORT: We present a lesion with complete axonotmesis of the axillary nerve with a time-relationship to microtraumatism. Initially the patient complained of some pain in the shoulder. During follow-up striking atrophy of the deltoid muscle was seen. CONCLUSIONS: We have reviewed the mechanisms described for lesions of the axillary nerve, which do not include the one we found. We discuss the possibility of our case being included in the clinical group described as having amyotrophic neuralgia, although there are some neurophysiological findings which are not typical of this condition. We suggest a review of the many possible trigger factors described in the genesis of amyotrophic neuralgia. Possibly some cases with atypical histories of trauma, and lesions shown by neurophysiological studies to be particularly severe, may be separated from this group.

Brachial Plexus Neuritis↗

[Central motor conduction evaluation in glycogenosis type III].

We report a 20-year-old man affected by glycogenosis type III with distal muscle weakness, more severe in distal leg muscles. The electromyogram showed myopathic features. Nerve conduction studies and central motor conduction after magnetic stimulation of the brain were normal. Our results suggest that there is no involvement of central motor pathways in this disease.

Adult↗

Carpal tunnel syndrome and vitamin B6.

Twelve patients with carpal tunnel syndrome were studied. Clinical and electrophysiological data were obtained and an estimation of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) status by an assay of erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase and coenzyme stimulation assay were done. None of the patients was found to have vitamin B6 deficiency. Patients were treated with 150 mg of pyridoxine daily for 3 months. Erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase increased significantly (p less than 0.001) in all the patients. In 6 patients there were clinical and electrophysiological improvement and erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase increased more than in the other 6 patients. The data obtained appear to indicate that although vitamin B6 deficiency is not common in carpal tunnel syndrome patients, pyridoxine supplementation can be recommended as adjuvant treatment in those patients undergoing surgery.

Adult↗

Proximal sensory conduction in diabetic patients.

A study of segmental conduction along the peripheral afferent pathway of the upper limbs was carried out in 44 diabetic patients and 44 controls. An abnormal proximal conduction (Erb-cervical) was observed in 9 patients (20.4%). A similar incidence of abnormalities appeared at the most distal segment (digit III-wrist). A significant relationship between the alterations of proximal conduction and the presence of clinical signs of diabetic polyneuropathy was found. A common pathogenic mechanism underlying both these disorders is suggested.

Action Potentials↗

Effect of ischaemia on somatosensory evoked potentials in diabetic patients.

The nerve action potential at the elbow and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) at the scalp were recorded over 30 minutes of tourniquet-induced limb ischaemia in 10 diabetic patients and 10 controls. According to the SEP changes, an increased resistance to nerve ischaemia in diabetic patients was observed. The pathways involved in SEP conduction are discussed.

Action Potentials↗

[Multiple cranial neuropathy: an atypical variant of the Guillain-Barre syndrome?].

INTRODUCTION: Multiple cranial neuropathy or polineuritis cranealis is rarely seen in everyday clinical practice. It is considered to be a topographically circumscribed form of the Guillain-Barré syndrome. The cases described have a wide range of clinical and biological characteristics. Some of these may be due to infectious agents. CLINICAL CASE: We present the case of a 50 year old man with acute onset of diplopia, dysphagia, anarthria, cervical and right arm flexor-extensor muscle weakness due to involvement of many motor cranial nerves and superior cervical nerve roots. On neurological examination there was mixed involvement, mainly of the axons of the nerve trunks involved. Studies to determine aetiology did not show any demonstrable agent. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Different topographical varieties of the Guillain-Barré syndrome have been described, including: Fisher's syndrome, pharyngo-cervico-brachial paralysis, arreflexive paraparesia, bilateral facial paralysis with paraesthesias, hyporeflexia and bilateral lumbar polyradiculopathy. We compare the clinical characteristics of our patient with those described in the literature. We found a degree of heterogenicity in the clinical and biological characteristics of the cases described, which may mean that they had different aetiologies. Therefore, we consider that before labelling these conditions as atypical variants of the Guillain-Barré syndrome, a thorough search should be made for a precise aetiology.

Axons↗