Electrophysiological evaluation of the neuromuscular junction: a brief review
The nerve terminal and muscle membrane compose the neuromuscular junction. After opening the voltage-gated calcium channels, action potentials from the motor axons provoke a cascade for the acetylcholine release from synaptic vesicles to the synaptic cleft, where it binds to its receptor at the musc...
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Thieme Revinter Publicações
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria |
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| Online Access: | http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0043-1777749 |
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| author | João Aris Kouyoumdjian Eduardo de Paula Estephan |
| author_facet | João Aris Kouyoumdjian Eduardo de Paula Estephan |
| author_sort | João Aris Kouyoumdjian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The nerve terminal and muscle membrane compose the neuromuscular junction. After opening the voltage-gated calcium channels, action potentials from the motor axons provoke a cascade for the acetylcholine release from synaptic vesicles to the synaptic cleft, where it binds to its receptor at the muscle membrane for depolarization. Low amplitude compound muscle action potential typically presents in presynaptic disorders, increasing by more than 100% after a 10-second effort in the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome and less in botulism. Needle electromyography may show myopathic motor unit action potentials and morphological instability (“jiggle”) due to impulse blocking. Low-frequency repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) is helpful in postsynaptic disorders, such as myasthenia gravis and most congenital myasthenic syndromes, where the number of functioning acetylcholine receptors is reduced. Low-frequency RNS with a decrement >10% is abnormal when comparing the 4th to the first compound muscle action potential amplitude. High-frequency RNS is helpful in presynaptic disorders like Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, botulism, and some rare congenital myasthenic syndromes. The high-frequency RNS releases more calcium, increasing the acetylcholine with a compound muscle action potential increment. Concentric needle records apparent single-fiber action potentials (spikes). A voluntary activation measures the jitter between spikes from two endplates. An electrical activation measures the jitter of one spike (one endplate). The jitter is the most sensitive test for detecting a neuromuscular junction dysfunction. Most neuromuscular junction disorders are responsive to treatment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9bd63dc4fee44b34a922eb000c300e56 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0004-282X 1678-4227 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Thieme Revinter Publicações |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria |
| spelling | doaj-art-9bd63dc4fee44b34a922eb000c300e562025-08-20T02:00:42ZengThieme Revinter PublicaçõesArquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria0004-282X1678-42272023-12-0181121040105210.1055/s-0043-1777749Electrophysiological evaluation of the neuromuscular junction: a brief reviewJoão Aris Kouyoumdjian0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9384-9964Eduardo de Paula Estephan1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6807-1951Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, Departamento de Ciências Neurológicas, Psiquiatria e Psicologia Médica, São José do Rio Preto SP, Brazil.Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, Departamento de Ciências Neurológicas, Psiquiatria e Psicologia Médica, São José do Rio Preto SP, Brazil.The nerve terminal and muscle membrane compose the neuromuscular junction. After opening the voltage-gated calcium channels, action potentials from the motor axons provoke a cascade for the acetylcholine release from synaptic vesicles to the synaptic cleft, where it binds to its receptor at the muscle membrane for depolarization. Low amplitude compound muscle action potential typically presents in presynaptic disorders, increasing by more than 100% after a 10-second effort in the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome and less in botulism. Needle electromyography may show myopathic motor unit action potentials and morphological instability (“jiggle”) due to impulse blocking. Low-frequency repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) is helpful in postsynaptic disorders, such as myasthenia gravis and most congenital myasthenic syndromes, where the number of functioning acetylcholine receptors is reduced. Low-frequency RNS with a decrement >10% is abnormal when comparing the 4th to the first compound muscle action potential amplitude. High-frequency RNS is helpful in presynaptic disorders like Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, botulism, and some rare congenital myasthenic syndromes. The high-frequency RNS releases more calcium, increasing the acetylcholine with a compound muscle action potential increment. Concentric needle records apparent single-fiber action potentials (spikes). A voluntary activation measures the jitter between spikes from two endplates. An electrical activation measures the jitter of one spike (one endplate). The jitter is the most sensitive test for detecting a neuromuscular junction dysfunction. Most neuromuscular junction disorders are responsive to treatment.http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0043-1777749Neuromuscular JunctionMyasthenia GravisRepetitive Nerve StimulationSingle-Fiber ElectromyographyJitterJunção NeuromuscularMiastenia GravisEstimulação Nervosa RepetitivaEletromiografia de Fibra ÚnicaJitter |
| spellingShingle | João Aris Kouyoumdjian Eduardo de Paula Estephan Electrophysiological evaluation of the neuromuscular junction: a brief review Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria Neuromuscular Junction Myasthenia Gravis Repetitive Nerve Stimulation Single-Fiber Electromyography Jitter Junção Neuromuscular Miastenia Gravis Estimulação Nervosa Repetitiva Eletromiografia de Fibra Única Jitter |
| title | Electrophysiological evaluation of the neuromuscular junction: a brief review |
| title_full | Electrophysiological evaluation of the neuromuscular junction: a brief review |
| title_fullStr | Electrophysiological evaluation of the neuromuscular junction: a brief review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Electrophysiological evaluation of the neuromuscular junction: a brief review |
| title_short | Electrophysiological evaluation of the neuromuscular junction: a brief review |
| title_sort | electrophysiological evaluation of the neuromuscular junction a brief review |
| topic | Neuromuscular Junction Myasthenia Gravis Repetitive Nerve Stimulation Single-Fiber Electromyography Jitter Junção Neuromuscular Miastenia Gravis Estimulação Nervosa Repetitiva Eletromiografia de Fibra Única Jitter |
| url | http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0043-1777749 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT joaoariskouyoumdjian electrophysiologicalevaluationoftheneuromuscularjunctionabriefreview AT eduardodepaulaestephan electrophysiologicalevaluationoftheneuromuscularjunctionabriefreview |