Muscle denervation in chronic Chagas disease
Sica, R.E.; Sanz, O.P.; Aristimuño, G.G.; Basso, S.; Pagano, M.A.; Taratuto, A.; Fumo, T.; Ratusnu, A.F.; Colombi, A.
Medicina 39(5): 579-588
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-7680 PMID: 121145 Document Number: 147841
In Argentina, 134 patients with chronic Chagas' disease were subjected to a detailed electrophysiological study of the skeletal muscle and its motor innervation. All the motor terminal latency measurements and nerve conduction velocities were normal. No muscle decremental responses were found to repetitive motor nerve stimulation. Most of the patients showed a diminished interference pattern as well as a reduction in the number of functional motor units, with the size of the surviving units being increased. On the other hand, the muscle histological picture showed type I and type II fibre grouping. These findings suggest that the spinal motoneuron soma is involved in this disorder. [AS].