Assessing neuromuscular disease with multifrequency electrical impedance myography

Muscle Nerve. 2006 Nov;34(5):595-602. doi: 10.1002/mus.20626.

Abstract

Electrical impedance myography (EIM) is a noninvasive technique for neuromuscular assessment in which low-intensity alternating current is applied to a muscle and the consequent surface voltage patterns are evaluated. Previous work using a single frequency of 50 kHZ has demonstrated quantitative correlation of EIM parameters with disease status. In this investigation we examined the use of multifrequency EIM, studying a prototypical neurogenic disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS) and myopathic disorder (inflammatory myopathy, IM). Eleven ALS patients, 7 IM patients, and 46 normal subjects participated in the study. Although disease-specific patterns were not identified such that IM could be differentiated from ALS, impedance vs. frequency patterns for diseased subjects differed substantially from those of the age-matched normal subjects, with the greatest alterations occurring in the most severe cases. Multifrequency EIM may be well-suited to serve as an easily applied technique to assess disease severity in a variety of neuromuscular conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / diagnosis
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / physiopathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Disease Progression
  • Electric Impedance
  • Electric Stimulation / methods
  • Electromyography / instrumentation
  • Electromyography / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle Contraction / physiology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiopathology*
  • Myositis / diagnosis
  • Myositis / physiopathology
  • Neuromuscular Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Neuromuscular Diseases / physiopathology
  • Predictive Value of Tests