Resistance to ischemia of motor axons in children with viral meningitis and Guillain-Barré syndrome

Abstract

To study the effect of local temporary ischemia of the ulnar nerve on the motor nerve conduction velocity, electroneuromyography was conducted at the level of the forearm in 26 children of the comparison group, 16 children with acute viral meningitis (VM), 11 children 14 days after clinical manifestations of VM, and 11 children with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) in the catamnesis. The group of children with GBS in the catamnesis exhibited a less pronounced reactivity of nerve conduction (RNC) on the 10th minute of ischemia (by 50%, p < 0.00001) than that in the comparison group. A lower RNC (by 29%) compared to the control was recorded in children with acute VM. The resistance to ischemia of motor axons in immune-mediated neuropathies and acute infections may be caused by cytokine-mediated channelopathies.