2021 Volume 58 Issue 1 Pages 32-37
Numerous investigators have reported the use of microneurographic technique in patients with neurological disorders. This technique has been reported to be clinically useful for the pathophysiological analysis of many types of neurological disorders. In patients with peripheral neuropathy, such as diabetic polyneuropathy or demyelinating neuropathy, clinical usefulness was demonstrated by using the microneurographic technique to obtain large amplitudes of nerve action potentials from sensory nerves. In autonomic disorders, characteristic findings were reported in pure autonomic failure and sweating disorders, such as hyperhidrosis and anhidrosis. By using the microneurographic technique, we recorded and evaluated sympathetic neurograms in patients with many neurodegenerative disorders including motor neuron disease, Parkinson’s disease, and spinocerebellar degeneration. In particular, we discovered important findings of autonomic dysfunction by recording muscle sympathetic nerve activity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. Our findings include identifying the existence of sympathetic hyperfunction at rest with chronological changes, regardless of progressive muscle weakness and exacerbation of respiratory function. These findings were validated by comparing the results to our previously acquired data in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
