Physiological tremor analysis of patients with anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein associated neuropathy and tremor

✍ Scribed by S.F. Pedersen; S.L. Pullman; N. Latov; T.H. Brannagan III

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 140 KB
• Volume: 20
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0148-639X
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4598(199701)20:1<38::aid-mus5>3.0.co;2-i

✦ Synopsis

Tremor is often associated with anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein (anti-MAG) peripheral neuropathy (PN), but its physiology has never been accurately described. This study quantified the physiological characteristics of tremors in patients with anti-MAG demyelinating PN. Eighteen patients with tremor and PN with demyelinating features (ages 30-86, mean = 66.5 years) were evaluated for anti-MAG antibodies (positive considered ജ1:3200) and for tremor amplitude, frequency, side-to-side relationships, and electromyographic (EMG) activation patterns. Thirteen patients had anti-MAG titers >1:3200 and 8 had both positive anti-MAG titers and tremors. Anti-MAG PN patients revealed tremors higher in amplitude, lower in frequency, with greater side-to-side amplitude ratios, greater amplitude variability, and more consistent cocontracting antagonist EMG patterns that do not attenuate with inertial loading. We conclude that anti-MAG PN tremor is not due only to exaggerated physiologic mechanisms but may reflect a distinctive form of neurogenic tremor.