P7-2 F-wave and nerve conduction studies in 138 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract

Therefore, we investigated differences in electrophysiological findings and clinical symptoms of ALS by comparing patients with rapid and slow clinical courses. In 40 ALS patients, 14 patients showed a clinical course lasting less than one year and 13 patients showed a clinical course lasting more than three years. The mean interval from onset to diagnosis of ALS patients with a rapid clinical course was shorter than that of patients with a slow clinical course (4.3 months vs. 20 months P< 0.05). Patients with a rapid clinical course showed FPs in almost all muscles in the examined extremities. The muscle number showing FPs was more than that of patients with a slow clinical course (96.3% vs. 53.1% P< 0.05). However, the rate of muscle with fibs-sw between these groups did not differ significantly. Conclusion: The rate of muscle showing FPs may assist in predicting the clinical prognosis.