Clinical aspects, electrodiagnosis and therapy of myopathies
Huffmann, G.
Fortschritte der Neurologie Psychiatrie und Ihrer Grenzgebiete 46(11): 597-612
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0015-8194 PMID: 251143 Document Number: 126951
Electromyography represents a valuable aid in the detection of myopathies. To facilitate understanding of the diagnostic considerations, the review of the clinical syndromes is preceded by a comprehensive presentation of the electromyographical method and of the most important pathological phenomena. Among the many described primary and secondary myopathies, those myopathies were selected which were examined in an electrodiagnostic laboratory during the past 10 yr. The most frequently represented group is that of the progressive muscular dystrophies. Different types (7) are distinguished which differ from one another according to heredity, age of manifestation, the group of muscles which are affected first and the prognosis. No causal therapy is known. This applies equally to the myotonies and the various kinds of myositis. Symptomatic measures can definitely slow down the further progress of the relevant disease. Recent research has shown that, at the present moment, myasthenia gravis is the most remarkable myopathic disease. Results obtained via histology and animal experiments suggest the presence of an immunopathogenetic mechanism. Successes obtained through immunosuppressive therapy seem to confirm this assumption. The number of recorded myopathies is continually increasing, now that it is known that the musculature is involved in numerous basic internal diseases.