This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Russell, J. W. Articles by Ross, M. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Russell, J. W. Articles by Ross, M. A. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Predictive Value of Electromyography in Diagnosis and Prognosis of the Hypotonic Infant

Department of Neurology

Adel K. Afifi, MD

Department of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

Mark A. Ross, MD

Department of Neurology

To investigate the diagnostic validity of electromyography in the hypotonic infant, 79 children aged 0 to 12 months, seen over a 20-year period, were studied retrospectively. The diagnoses using clinical, muscle biopsy, and laboratory characteristics were: 25 central hypotonia, 20 spinal muscular atrophy, 20 myopathy, four myotonic dystrophy, four benign congenital hypotonia, two congenital muscular dystrophy, two myasthenia gravis, one infantile inflammatory myopathy, and one arthrogryposis multiplex congenita. Using strict criteria, electromyography accurately predicted the final diagnosis in 65% of infants with spinal muscular atrophy and was consistent with the diagnosis in another 25%. In contrast, electromyography accurately predicted the final diagnosis in only 10% of infants with myopathy and was normal in 88% of infants with central hypotonia. In infants with spinal muscular atrophy, there was no difference in the predictive value of electromyography when performed in the newborn compared to older infants. Normal distal nerve conduction velocities in infants with spinal muscular atrophy may predict prognosis, since these infants had a longer survival. Electromyography thus has a high predictive value for infantile spinal muscular atrophy but not for myopathy. (J Child Neurol 1992;7:387-391).

Journal of Child Neurology, Vol. 7, No. 4, 387-391 (1992)
DOI: 10.1177/088307389200700410


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Rabie, J. Jossiphov, and Y. Nevo Electromyography (EMG) Accuracy Compared to Muscle Biopsy in Childhood J Child Neurol, July 1, 2007; 22(7): 803 - 808. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F. Cheliout-Heraut, A. Barois, A. Urtizberea, L. Viollet, and B. Estournet-Mathiaud Evoked Potentials in Spinal Muscular Atrophy J Child Neurol, June 1, 2003; 18(6): 383 - 390. [Abstract] [PDF]