Volume 21, Issue 12 pp. 1661-1667
Main Article

Ectopic impulse generation and autoexcitation in single myelinated afferent fibers in patients with peripheral neuropathy and positive sensory symptoms

Mario Campero MD

Mario Campero MD

Neuromuscular Unit, Good Samaritan Hospital & Medical Center and Oregon Health Sciences University, 1040 NW 22nd Ave., Suite 460, Portland, Oregon 97210, USA

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Jordi Serra MD

Jordi Serra MD

Neuromuscular Unit, Good Samaritan Hospital & Medical Center and Oregon Health Sciences University, 1040 NW 22nd Ave., Suite 460, Portland, Oregon 97210, USA

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Paolo Marchettini MD

Paolo Marchettini MD

Neuromuscular Unit, Good Samaritan Hospital & Medical Center and Oregon Health Sciences University, 1040 NW 22nd Ave., Suite 460, Portland, Oregon 97210, USA

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José L. Ochoa MD, PhD, DSc

Corresponding Author

José L. Ochoa MD, PhD, DSc

Neuromuscular Unit, Good Samaritan Hospital & Medical Center and Oregon Health Sciences University, 1040 NW 22nd Ave., Suite 460, Portland, Oregon 97210, USA

Neuromuscular Unit, Good Samaritan Hospital & Medical Center and Oregon Health Sciences University, 1040 NW 22nd Ave., Suite 460, Portland, Oregon 97210, USASearch for more papers by this author

Abstract

Microneurographic studies were performed using cutaneous nerves of 8 patients with documented peripheral neuropathy who expressed positive sensory symptoms. Intraneural recordings in single myelinated fibers revealed: (i) ectopic generation of bursts of spontaneous action potentials; (ii) ectopic generation of ongoing repetitive discharges transiently interrupted by natural stimulation of the receptive field; and (iii) repetitive discharges triggered by a preceding action potential. These results provide direct evidence of a peripheral pathophysiological basis for spontaneous and stimulus-induced paresthesias and dysesthesias in patients with peripheral neuropathy. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 21: 1661–1667, 1998

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