Neuromuscular disease
Congenital nemaline myopathy (neuromuscular disorder)
SpecialtyNeurology, neuromuscular medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation
CausesAutoimmune disorders,[1] genetic disorders,[2] environmental factors[3]
Diagnostic methodMuscle electrophysiology tests, genetic testing
TreatmentDepends on the disorder; many currently have no cure[2]

A neuromuscular disease is any disease affecting the peripheral nervous system (PNS),[lower-alpha 1] the neuromuscular junctions, or skeletal muscles, all of which are components of the motor unit.[4] Damage to any of these structures can cause muscle atrophy and weakness. Issues with sensation can also occur.

Neuromuscular diseases can be acquired or genetic. Mutations of more than 500 genes have shown to be causes of neuromuscular diseases.[5] Other causes include nerve or muscle degeneration, autoimmunity, toxins, medications, malnutrition, metabolic derangements, hormone imbalances, infection, nerve compression/entrapment, comprised blood supply, and trauma.[6]

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of neuromuscular disease may include numbness, paresthesia, muscle atrophy, a pseudoathletic appearance, exercise intolerance, myalgia (muscle pain), fasciculations (muscle twitches), myotonia (delayed muscle relaxation), hypotonia (lack of resistance to passive movement), fixed muscle weakness (a static symptom), or premature muscle fatigue (a dynamic symptom).[2][7][8][9]

Causes

Neuromuscular disease can be caused by autoimmune disorders,[1] genetic/hereditary disorders[2] and some forms of the collagen disorder Ehlers–Danlos syndrome,[10] exposure to environmental chemicals and poisoning which includes heavy metal poisoning.[3] The failure of the electrical insulation surrounding nerves, the myelin, is seen in certain deficiency diseases, such as the failure of the body's system for absorbing vitamin B-12.[3]

Diseases of the motor end plate include myasthenia gravis, a form of muscle weakness due to antibodies against acetylcholine receptor,[11][12] and its related condition Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS).[13] Tetanus and botulism are bacterial infections in which bacterial toxins cause increased or decreased muscle tone, respectively.[14] Muscular dystrophies, including Duchenne's and Becker's, are a large group of diseases, many of them hereditary or resulting from genetic mutations, where the muscle integrity is disrupted, they lead to progressive loss of strength and decreased life span.[15]

Further causes of neuromuscular diseases are:

Polymyositis

Inflammatory muscle disorders

Tumors

Diagnosis

Nerve conduction velocity (study)

Diagnostic procedures that may reveal muscular disorders include direct clinical observations. This usually starts with the observation of bulk, possible atrophy or loss of muscle tone. Neuromuscular disease can also be diagnosed by various blood tests and using electrodiagnostic medicine tests[21] including electromyography[22] (measuring electrical activity in muscles) and nerve conduction studies.[23] Genetic testing is an important part of diagnosing inherited neuromuscular conditions.[21]

Prognosis

Prognosis and management vary by disease.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Lower motor neurons originate in the anterior horn of the spinal cord, a part of the central nervous system. However, the anterior horn is also part of the motor unit. Diseases that affect the anterior horn are classified as neuromuscular.

References

  1. 1 2 Kraker, Jessica; a. Zivkovic, Sasa (2011). "Autoimmune Neuromuscular Disorders". Current Neuropharmacology. 9 (3): 400–8. doi:10.2174/157015911796558000. PMC 3151594. PMID 22379454.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Neuromuscular Disorders: MedlinePlus". www.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
  3. 1 2 3 Swash, Michael; Schwartz, Martin S. (2013-03-14). Neuromuscular Diseases: A Practical Approach to Diagnosis and Management. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 86,196. ISBN 9781447138341.
  4. ↑ Katirji, Bashar (2014). "Clinical Assessment in Neuromuscular Disorders". In Katirji, Bashar; Kaminski, Henry J.; Ruff, Robert L. (eds.). Neuromuscular disorders in clinical practice (Second ed.). New York. ISBN 978-1-4614-6567-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. ↑ Dowling, JJ; Weihl, CC; Spencer, MJ (November 2021). "Molecular and cellular basis of genetically inherited skeletal muscle disorders". Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology. 22 (11): 713–732. doi:10.1038/s41580-021-00389-z. PMC 9686310. PMID 34257452. S2CID 235822532.
  6. ↑ Katirji, Bashar; Kaminski, Henry J.; Ruff, Robert L., eds. (2014). Neuromuscular disorders in clinical practice (Second ed.). New York. ISBN 978-1-4614-6567-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. ↑ "Myopathy Information Page: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)". www.ninds.nih.gov. Archived from the original on 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
  8. ↑ Walters, Jon (October 2017). "Muscle hypertrophy and pseudohypertrophy". Practical Neurology. 17 (5): 369–379. doi:10.1136/practneurol-2017-001695. ISSN 1474-7766. PMID 28778933.
  9. ↑ Nadaj-Pakleza, Aleksandra (July 2022). "Muscle hypertrophy: indicative of good health or disease? / Hypertrophie musculaire : signe de bonne santé ou de maladie ?". Les Cahiers de Myologie (in English and French) (25): 10–15. doi:10.1051/myolog/202225004. ISSN 2108-2219.
  10. ↑ Voermans, Nicol C; Van Alfen, Nens; Pillen, Sigrid; Lammens, Martin; Schalkwijk, Joost; Zwarts, Machiel J; Van Rooij, Iris A; Hamel, Ben C. J; Van Engelen, Baziel G (2009). "Neuromuscular involvement in various types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome". Annals of Neurology. 65 (6): 687–97. doi:10.1002/ana.21643. PMID 19557868. S2CID 22600065.
  11. ↑ Myasthenia Gravis at eMedicine
  12. ↑ Hill, M (2003). "The Neuromuscular Junction Disorders". Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 74 (90002): ii32–ii37. doi:10.1136/jnnp.74.suppl_2.ii32. PMC 1765619. PMID 12754327.
  13. ↑ Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS) at eMedicine
  14. ↑ Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Aster, Jon C. (2014-09-05). Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 382. ISBN 9780323296359.
  15. ↑ "Muscular Dystrophy Information Page: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)". www.ninds.nih.gov. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
  16. ↑ Liaison, Janet Austin, Office of Communications and Public. "Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis". www.niams.nih.gov. Archived from the original on 2016-05-25. Retrieved 2016-04-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ↑ Polymyositis at eMedicine
  18. ↑ MedlinePlus Encyclopedia: Rhabdomyolysis
  19. ↑ Leiomyoma at eMedicine
  20. ↑ Rhabdomyomas at eMedicine
  21. 1 2 McDonald, Craig M (2012). "Clinical Approach to the Diagnostic Evaluation of Hereditary and Acquired Neuromuscular Diseases". Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 23 (3): 495–563. doi:10.1016/j.pmr.2012.06.011. PMC 3482409. PMID 22938875.
  22. ↑ Darras, Basil T.; Jones, H. Royden Jr.; Ryan, Monique M.; de Vivo, Darryl C. (2014-12-03). Neuromuscular Disorders of Infancy, Childhood, and Adolescence: A Clinician's Approach. Elsevier. p. 488. ISBN 978-0124171275.
  23. ↑ Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Studies at eMedicine

Further reading

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