A Long-Term Follow-up Study of Patients with Post-Poliomyelitis Neuromuscular Symptoms

摘要: A "post-polio" syndrome characterized by new neuromuscular symptoms, including muscle weakness, may develop years after recovery from acute paralytic poliomyelitis. We studied 27 patients (mean age, 50.6 years) in whom weakness developed a mean of 28.8 polio. reevaluated these during follow-up period 8.2 (range, 4.5 to 20) they were originally at the National Institutes Health. The total onset was 12.2 6 29). assessed with quantitative testing, biopsy, electromyography, and virologic immunologic examination cerebrospinal fluid. Muscle strength had declined all patients. rate decline averaged 1 percent per year. decrease irregular, subjective plateau periods that ranged 10 years. None amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Oligoclonal bands (IgG) found fluid 7 13 studied, but no specific elevation antibodies poliovirus observed newly affected muscles evaluated longitudinally biopsies electromyography showed signs chronic denervation. Groups atrophic fibers (group atrophy) "neurogenic jitter" not present. New post-polio is life-threatening form motor-neuron deterioration. It appears this due loss whole motor neurons, as sclerosis, it dysfunction surviving neurons causes slow disintegration terminals individual nerve axons.