Combined Central and Peripheral Demyelination: Two Case Reports.

Combined central and peripheral demyelination (CCPD) is a rare disease characterized by demyelinating lesions in both the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). CCPD can present with acute, subacute, or chronic onset. The initial symptom may be of CNS origin, PNS origin, or both. The clinical manifestations of CCPD are quite heterogeneous, and there are no well-defined diagnostic criteria. In MRI imaging of CCPD cases, demyelinating lesions can be seen in areas such as the brain, cerebellum, brainstem, optic nerve, and spinal cord. Common electromyography (EMG) findings in patients with CCPD include decreased motor nerve conduction velocities, decreased or absent sensory nerve action potentials, prolonged F-wave latency, and decreased amplitude of compound muscle action potentials. Neurofascin (NF) is a transmembrane protein and anti-neurofascin (anti-NF) antibodies directed against NF can be positive in cases of CCPD. Four main NF polypeptides are produced by alternative splicing: NF 186, NF 180, NF 166, and NF 155. The investigation of anti-NF in CCPD cases is therefore important for etiological considerations. Here, we discussed three cases diagnosed with CCPD based on clinical, neuroimaging, EMG, and anti-NF antibody results in light of the literature.

Assessment of Patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage or Hemorrhagic Transformation in the VENOST Study.

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis (CVST) may lead to cerebral edema and increased intracranial pressure; besides, ischemic or hemorrhagic lesions may develop. Intracerebral hemorrhages occur in approximately one-third of CVST patients. We assessed and compared the findings of the cerebral hemorrhage (CH) group and the CVST group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the VENOST study, medical records of 1,193 patients with CVST, aged over 18 years, were obtained from 35 national stroke centers. Demographic characteristics, clinical symptoms, signs at the admission, radiological findings, etiologic factors, acute and maintenance treatment, and outcome results were reported. The number of involved sinuses or veins, localizations of thrombus, and lesions on CT and MRI scans were recorded. RESULTS: CH was detected in the brain imaging of 241 (21.1%) patients, as hemorrhagic infarction in 198 patients and intracerebral hemorrhage in 43 patients. Gynecologic causes comprised the largest percentage (41.7%) of etiology and risk factors in the CVST group. In the CH group, headache associated with other neurological symptoms was more frequent. These neurological symptoms were epileptic seizures (46.9%), nausea and/or vomiting (36.5%), altered consciousness (36.5%), and focal neurological deficits (33.6%). mRS was ≥3 in 23.1% of the patients in the CH group. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: CVST, an important cause of stroke in the young, should be monitored closely if the patients have additional symptoms of headache, multiple sinus involvement, and CH. Older age and parenchymal lesion, either hemorrhagic infarction or intracerebral hemorrhage, imply poor outcome.

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis in Women: Subgroup Analysis of the VENOST Study.

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) associated with reproductive health-related risk factors (RHRF) including pregnancy, puerperium, and oral contraceptive (OC) use can prevent severe neurological sequelae; thus, the symptoms must be documented in detail for each group. METHODS: Out of 1144 patients with CVST, a total of 777 women were enrolled from a multicenter for the study of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (VENOST). Demographic, biochemical, clinical, and radiological aspects were compared for 324 cases with RHRF and 453 cases without RHRF. RESULTS: The mean age of the RHRF (-) group (43.2 ± 13 years) was significantly higher than of the RHRF (+) group (34 ± 9 years). A previous history of deep venous thrombosis (3%), isolated cavernous sinus involvement (1%), cranial neuropathy (13%), comorbid malignancy (7%), and its disability scores after 12 months (9%) were significantly higher in the RHRF (-) group. The RHRF (+) group consisted of 44% cases of puerperium, 33% cases of OC users and 23% of pregnant women. The mean age was found to be higher in OC users (38 ± 9 years). A previous history of deep venous thrombosis was slightly higher in the pregnancy subgroup (4%). Epileptic seizures were more common in the puerperium group (44%). CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that the risk of CSVT increases parallel to age, OC use, and puerperium period. In addition, when considering the frequency of findings and symptoms, epileptic seizures in the puerperium subgroup of the RHRF (+) group and malignancies in the RHRF (-) group may accompany the CSVT. In daily practice, predicting these risks for the CSVT and early recognition of the symptoms will provide significant benefits to patients.

Epileptic seizures in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: Subgroup analysis of VENOST study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence and prognostic impact of early seizures in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis patients (CVST). METHOD: VENOST is a retrospective and prospective national multicenter observational study. CVST patients with or without epileptic seizures (ES) were analyzed and compared in terms of demographic and imaging data, causative factors, clinical variables, and prognosis in a total of 1126 patients. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients in the ES group was 39.73 ± 12.64 and 40.17 ± 14.02 years in the non-ES group (p > 0.05). Epileptic seizures were more common (76.6 %) in females (p < 0.001). Early ES occurred in 269 of 1126 patients (23.9 %). Epileptic seizures mainly presented in the acute phase (71.4 %) of the disease (p < 0.001). Majority of these (60.5 %) were in the first 24 h of the CVST. The most common neurological signs were focal neurologic deficits (29.9 %) and altered consciousness (31.4 %) in the ES group. Superior sagittal sinus (SSS) and cortical veins (CV) involvement were the most common sites of thrombosis and the mostly related etiology were found puerperium in seizure group (30.3 % vs 13.9 %). Patients with seizures had worse outcome in the first month of the disease (p < 0.001) but these did not have any influence thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: In this largest CVST cohort (VENOST) reported female sex, presence of focal neurological deficits and altered consciousness, thrombosis of the SSS and CVs, hemorrhagic infarction were risk factors for ES occurrence in patients with CVST.

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis as a Rare Complication of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Subgroup Analysis of the VENOST Study.

AIM: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an unusual risk factor for cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). As few CVST patients with SLE have been reported, little is known regarding its frequency as an underlying etiology, clinical characteristics, or long-term outcome. We evaluated a large cohort of CVST patients with SLE in a multicenter study of cerebral venous thrombosis, the VENOST study, and their clinical characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Among the 1144 CVST patients in the VENOST cohort, patients diagnosed with SLE were studied. Their demographic and clinical characteristics, etiological risk factors, venous involvement status, and outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: In total, 15 (1.31%) of 1144 CVST patients had SLE. The mean age of these patients was 39.9 ± 12.1 years and 13 (86.7%) were female. Presenting symptoms included headache (73.3%), visual field defects (40.0%), and altered consciousness (26.7%). The main sinuses involved were the transverse (60.0%), sagittal (40.0%), and sigmoid (20.0%) sinuses. Parenchymal involvement was not seen in 73.3% of the patients. On the modified Rankin scale, 92.9% of the patients scored 0-1 at the 1-month follow-up and 90.9% scored 0-1 at the 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: SLE was found in 1.31% of the CVST patients, most frequently in young women. Headache was the most common symptom and the CVST onset was chronic in the majority of cases. The patient outcomes were favorable. CVST should be suspected in SLE patients, even in those with isolated chronic headache symptoms with or without other neurological findings.

Behçet's disease as a causative factor of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: subgroup analysis of data from the VENOST study.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to determine the rate of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) among cases of Behçet's disease (BD) included in a multicentre study of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (VENOST). METHODS: VENOST was a retrospective and prospective national multicentre observational study that included 1144 patients with CVST. The patients were classified according to aetiologic factors, time of CVST symptom onset, sinus involvement, treatment approach and prognosis. RESULTS: BD was shown to be a causative factor of CVST in 108 (9.4%) of 1144 patients. The mean age of patients in the BD group was 35.27 years and 68.5% were men, whereas in the non-BD CVST group, the mean age was 40.57 years and 28.3% were men (P < 0.001). Among the aetiologic factors for patients aged 18-36 years, BD was predominant for men, and puerperium was predominant for women. The onset of symptoms in the BD group was consistent with the subacute form. The transverse sinuses were the most common sites of thrombosis, followed by the superior sagittal sinuses. The most common symptom was headache (96.2%), followed by visual field defects (38%). CONCLUSIONS: BD was found in 9.4% of patients in our VENOST series. Patients with BD were younger and showed a male predominance. The functional outcome of CVST in patients with BD was good; only 12% of patients presenting with cranial nerve involvement and altered consciousness at the beginning had a poor outcome (modified Rankin Score ⩾2).

How Long does Denervation Take in Poliomyelitis? Or is it a Lifetime?"

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the period of reinnervation in patients with poliomyelitis. This research was conducted to identify the appearance of denervation potentials in patients with poliomyelitis as indicators for reinnervation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 246 male patients with poliomyelitis were assessed electrophysiologically between 1988 and 2007. The mean age was 22.8 (18-42). It has been an average of 19.9 ± 4.9 years since the beginning of complaints from the patients. RESULTS: The patients had no complaints of newly developing muscle weakness, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and difficulties in breathing and swallowing. Neurological examinations revealed the absence of myotomal pain and sensory loss. Upon assessment of the patients' limbs, the following findings were revealed: two patients had left upper and lower limb involvement, two patients had left upper and right lower limb involvement, 6 patients had left upper limb involvement, 12 patients had both lower limb involvement, 105 patients had left lower limb involvement, 1 patient had both upper limb involvement, 2 patients had right lower and upper limb involvement, 12 patients had right upper limb involvement, 6 patients had both lower limb involvement, 95 patients had right lower limb involvement, and 3 had all the three extremities affected. The needle electromyography revealed the presence of denervation potentials in 25.2% (62) of the patients. CONCLUSION: When poliovirus attacks the motor neuron, this neuron may be completely destroyed, damaged, or unaffected. Reinnervation occurs when nearby functioning motor units send out terminal axon sprouts to reinnervate the damaged muscle fibers. As a consequence of poliomyelitis, several muscle fibers become atrophic and fibrotic, but others continue to survive. This study showed that patients with a history of poliomyelitis experienced denervation with subsequent reinnervation for many years.

The investigation into the cutaneous silent period in patients with essential tremor pre-treatment and post-treatment.

Although essential tremor (ET) is the most common movement disorder, little is known regarding its pathophysiology. Cutaneous silent period (CSP) is a spinal inhibitory reflex that causes suppression of the voluntary muscle contraction that is induced by strong electrical stimulation of the cutaneous nerves. Clinical interest in the CSP stems from its potential usefulness for evaluating segment and components of sensory nerves that are not well assessed by standard electrodiagnostic methods. The aim of this study was to investigate CSP in patients with ET before and after treatment. A total of 30 patients (12 females + 18 males), having ET diagnosis and propranolol treatment initiated, were studied with technique of CSP. Patient group's pre-treatment latency average is found 84.45 ± 18.63, average CSP duration 42.37 ± 11.82, and CSP final latency average 127.10 ± 19.13. According to post-treatment CSP analysis, it is seen that patients' average latency values are found 83.14 ± 20.92 and it is determined that there is no significant statistical difference compared to pre-treatment latency values (p > 0.05). Post-treatment average CSP duration is found 36.64 ± 13.38, and it is seen that there is a significant statistical shortening compared to pre-treatment durations (p < 0.05). Patients' post-treatment CSP final latency averages are found 123.17 ± 13.67, and it is determined that there is no significant statistical difference compared to pre-treatment latency values (p > 0.05). The main finding of this study is that in ET the CSP is prolonged and that treatment with propranolol shortens the CSP and brings it closer to normal values. A small dose of propranolol has the effect of shortening pathologically prolonged CSP in a subset of ET patients (women and without family history), making further investigations with this method interesting. From this point of view in our study, patients with ET treatment give an idea of the effectiveness of propranolol. In recent years, a technique of CSP is interested in the field of electrophysiology and shows the effect of ET that given other pharmacological treatment and also it can be considered a quantitative measure to compare them. The usefulness of CSP should be supported by further studies with more patients.

P-wave dispersion doesn't increase in patients with epilepsy.

AIM: Epileptic seizures have occasionally been associated with cardiac conditions as atrioventricular blocks, long QT syndrome etc. P-wave dispersion (PWD), which is the difference between the longest (P max) and shortest P-wave duration (P min), is considered as a forerunner of atrial fibrillation. In this study, we investigated P-wave dispersion (PWD) in epileptic patients; based on the hypothesis that microthromboembolism may occur in atrial fibrillation. METHODS: Seventy five patients with mixed types of epilepsy and 50 age and sex matched healthy individuals were included into the study. P max, P min and PWD values were calculated for each subject from an ECG. RESULTS: The mean age of subjects in the epilepsy group and control group were similar (p>0.05). P max in patients with epilepsy was 125.1±0.7 ms, P min was 67.3±10.3 ms, and PWD was 57.6±8.3 ms while these values in the control group were 116.8±11.0 ms, 66.5±5.5 ms and 46.8±7.1 ms, respectively. There were no statistically significant difference between two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PWD does not increase in patients with mixed types of epilepsy. Therefore we believe that microthromboembolism due to atrial fibrillation can't cause epileptic seizures in patients with no structural heart disease.

The effect of obstructive sleep apnea on olfactory functions.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on the parameters of olfactory functions (odor threshold, odor discrimination, and odor identification tests) for orthonasal olfaction, retronasal olfactory testing, and olfactory bulb (OB) volumes. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. METHODS: This study was carried out in 78 volunteers between the ages of 20 and 60 years. The mean age of the patients was 46 ± 10.1 years. Patients were divided into three groups according to polysomnography results: 1) a control group, 2) a mild to moderate OSA group, and 3) a severe OSA group. Clinical features of the participants were evaluated with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Orthonasal and retronasal olfactory testing were performed with Sniffin' Sticks olfactory testing and retronasal olfactory testing, respectively. Olfactory bulb volumes were measured by planimetric manual contouring on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: The current investigation produced four major findings: 1) The apnea-hypopnea index had a significant and strong negative correlation with odor threshold scores and odor discrimination scores; 2) The apnea-hypopnea index was significantly negatively correlated with odor identification score and both right and left OB volumes; 3) retronasal olfactory scores were not significantly affected by OSA; and 4) continuous O2 saturation had a significant positive correlation on orthonasal olfactory functions, particularly the odor threshold and discrimination scores. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that OSA had significant negative effects on all orthonasal olfactory tasks, especially on threshold and discrimination. MRI also revealed volumetric shrinkage of OB volumes.

Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio, and Tp-e/QTc ratio are prolonged in patients with moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea.

BACKGROUND: Prolongation of the peak and the end of T wave (Tp-e) has been reported to be associated with ventricular arrhythmias. Tp-e/QT ratio and Tp-e/QTc ratio are used as an index of ventricular arrhythmogenesis. An increased incidence of ventricular arrhythmias has been reported in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The aim of this study was to assess ventricular repolarization in patients with OSA by using Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio, and Tp-e/QTc ratio. METHODS: We have studied 72 patients who underwent overnight polysomnography (PSG) between the years 2010-2011 at our institution. Patients with moderate and severe OSA (23 patients; mean age: 45±10), according to the apnea-hypopnea index, constituted the study group. Patients with normal PSG (23 patients; mean age: 42±11) were used as the control group. In all patients, Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio, Tp-e/QTc ratio, as well as some other electrocardiogram intervals were measured. Independent samples t-tests were used for comparison of continuous and categorical variables and correlations were calculated by Spearman rank correlation. RESULTS: Although QT and QTc intervals were not different between the groups, mean Tp-e interval (81.6±11.1 msn; 63.9±7.3 msn; respectively; P < 0.001), Tp-e/QT ratio (0.21±0.03; 0.17±0.02; respectively; P < 0.001), and Tp-e/QTc ratio (0.20±0.03; 0.16±0.02; respectively; P < 0.001) were prolonged in the study group compared to the control group. Correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between the presence of moderate and severe OSA and Tp-e interval (r = 0.72; P < 0.001), Tpe/QT ratio (r = 0.70; P < 0.001), and Tp-e/QTc ratio (r = 0.70; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio, and Tp-e/QTc ratio are prolonged in patients with moderate and severe OSA patients. There is a positive correlation between the presence of OSA and Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio, and Tp-e/QTc ratio.

Segmental vitiligo in a patient with thoracic outlet syndrome.

Reported here is a 35-year-old man with findings of thoracic outlet syndrome and bilateral segmental vitiligo on C8-T1 dermatomes. The possible causal relationship between the two disorders under the common denominator of cervical sympathetic involvement is discussed for the first time in the literature.

Serum asymmetric dimethylarginine levels in diabetic patients with neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of our study was to evaluate the role of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in patients with diabetic neuropathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 58 diabetic patients and 26 healthy volunteers were included. In both groups ADMA measurements were performed together with other biochemical examinations. Nerve conduction studies and Neuropathy Symptom Score (NSS) were administered to the diabetic patients. RESULTS: ADMA levels were found significantly higher in diabetic patients compared to the control group (p = 0.0001). However, ADMA levels were not statistically significant between diabetic patients with neuropathy and without neuropathy (p = 0.86 and p = 0.47). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that there is not any significant relationship between ADMA and diabetic neuropathy.

A sledgehammer on the brachial plexus: thoracic outlet syndrome, subclavius posticus muscle, and traction in aggregate.

Reported here is a 30-year-old man who was seen because of pain and weakness in the upper extremities after a tractional injury. Physical examination revealed significant atrophy in the left deltoid and right intrinsic hand muscles, generalized hypoesthesia, decreased deep tendon reflexes bilaterally, and decreased strength in various muscle groups. Roos (right) and hyperabduction (bilateral) tests were positive. Electrodiagnostic studies were consistent with bilateral brachial plexopathy. Cervical radiographs showed long transverse process of C7 on the right side and a small rudimentary rib articulating with C7 on the left side. Brachial plexus magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an aberrant muscle and compressive brachial plexus injury on the left side. Surgery via transaxillary approach was performed on the left side. The occurrence of traumatic brachial plexopathy in the presence of underlying thoracic outlet syndrome and subclavius posticus muscle is discussed for the first time in the literature.

The effect of an exercise program in conjunction with short-period patellar taping on pain, electromyogram activity, and muscle strength in patellofemoral pain syndrome.

BACKGROUND: McConnell recommended that patellar tape be kept on all day, until patients learn how to activate their vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) during an exercise program. This application may pose problems because prolonged taping may be inadvisable for some patients or even contraindicated owing to skin discomfort, irritation, or allergic reaction. HYPOTHESIS: Wearing patellofemoral tape for a shorter duration during an exercise program would be just as beneficial as a prolonged taping application. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort. METHODS: Twelve patients and 16 healthy people participated. Patients underwent short-period patellar taping plus an exercise program for 3 months. Numeric pain rating, muscle strength of the knee extensors, and electromyogram activity of the vastus lateralis and VMO were evaluated. RESULTS: There were significant differences in electromyogram activity (P = .04) and knee extensor muscle strength (P = .03) between involved and uninvolved sides before treatment. After treatment, pain scores decreased, and there were no significant differences between involved and uninvolved sides in electromyogram activity (P = .68) and knee extensor strength (P = .62). Before treatment, mean VMO activation started significantly later than that of vastus lateralis, as compared with the matched healthy control group (P = .01). After treatment, these differences were nonsignificant (P = .08). CONCLUSION: Short-period patellar taping plus an exercise program improves VMO and vastus lateralis activation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A shorter period of taping for the exercise program may be as beneficial as a prolonged taping application.

Auditory event-related brain potentials in fibromyalgia syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate cognitive functions using auditory event-related brain potentials (ERP) in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). METHODS: The P300 component of ERP was studied in 36 female FMS patients and 22 control subjects. The short form 36 (SF-36) medical outcome study was used to determine quality of life. Number of tender points and disease duration were noted. Cognitive functions were evaluated with P300. RESULTS: The symptoms were discrepant in FMS (P<0.001). The scores of the eight SF-36 subgroups in FMS patients were significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.001). Fibromyalgia syndrome patients had prolonged latency and reduced amplitude of P300 (P<0.001). No correlation was found between the subgroups of SF-36, tender point count, disease duration, and P300. CONCLUSION: The results of our study reveal that FMS affects quality of life and dysfunction in cognitive abilities can be determined by brain event-related potentials.

[Karyotypic investigation of two cases of invasive candidiasis]. / Invaziv iki kandidoz olgusunun karyotipik olarak incelenmesi.

Investigation of the genetic relationship of the three Candida albicans strains isolated from each of two patients, one with C. albicans meningitis and the other with pancreatic pseudocyst (PP), by PFGE (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis), was aimed in this study. Three strains of C. albicans isolated from bloodstream, abscess and drainage fluid of the patient with PP were found to show the same karyotype, while three strains of C. albicans from cerebrospinal fluid, nasopharyngeal swab culture and stool sample of the patient with meningitis were found closely related. As a conclusion, PFGE enables to give valuable information about the probable source of transmission on individual basis in these two invasive candida infections.

Hereditary hyperekplexia caused by novel mutations of GLRA1 in Turkish families.

BACKGROUND: Hyperekplexia, also known as startle disease or stiff-person syndrome, is a neurological condition characterized by neonatal hypertonia and a highly exaggerated startle reflex. Genetic studies have linked mutations in the gene encoding glycine receptor alpha1 (GLRA1) with hereditary hyperekplexia. METHODS: We analyzed four Turkish families with a history of hyperekplexia. Genomic DNA was obtained from members of these families, and the entire coding sequence of GLRA1 was amplified by PCR followed by the sequencing of PCR products. DNA sequences were analyzed by direct observation using an electropherogram and compared with a published reference sequence. RESULTS: We identified three novel mutations in GLRA1. These included a large deletion removing the first 7 of 9 exons, a single-base deletion in exon 8 that results in protein truncation immediately after the deletion, and a missense mutation in exon 7 causing a tryptophan-to-cysteine change in the first transmembrane domain (M1). These mutant alleles have some distinct features as compared to previously identified GLRA1 mutations. Our data provides further evidence for mutational heterogeneity in GLRA1. The new mutant alleles reported here should advance our understanding of the etiology of hyperekplexia.

Discriminant analysis of various concentric needle EMG and macro-EMG parameters in detecting myopathic abnormality.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of various concentric needle electromyography (EMG) motor unit action potentials (cnMUPs) and macro-EMG motor unit potentials (mMUPs) parameters for differentiation between myopathic motor unit action potentials (MUPs) and normal MUPs. METHODS: We have analyzed 112 cnMUPs and 84 mMUPs recorded from 7 patients with myopathy and 256 cnMUPs, 256 mMUPs from 14 healthy subjects. Biceps brachii muscle was investigated. Evaluated variables were duration, amplitude, area, number of phases, area/amplitude ratio, size index and area/number of phases ratio for cnMUPs, area and amplitude for mMUPs. Univariate statistical analysis and discriminant analysis for each parameter were performed. RESULTS: The variable 'area ' gave rather good discrimination than duration, amplitude, number of phases, area/amplitude ratio, and size index. As demonstrated by discriminant analysis, area/phase ratio is more useful than area alone if myopathic MUPs had to be discriminated from normal MUPs. Discriminant efficiency of mMUP parameters were lower than all cnMUP parameters except number of phases. CONCLUSIONS: The new parameter area/number of phases ratio seemed to be promising, since it produced a better yield in detecting of myopathic abnormality than other investigated parameters in discriminant analysis. Discriminating ability of macro-EMG was lower than that of cnEMG.