A correlative study of quantitative EMG and biopsy findings in 31 patients with myopathies

Acta Myol. 2011 Jun;30(1):37-41.

Abstract

A direct correlation of QEMG with muscle biopsy findings might help delineate the sensitivity of QEMG in identifying muscle pathology as well as provide information on electrophysiological-histological correlations. In a study of 31 patients with a variety of myopathies we found that the sensitivity of QEMG was between 24 to 69% depending of the specific method of signal analysis. The positive predictive value of abnormal QEMG was more than 90% while its negative predictive value was only about 20%. Amplitude outlier analysis was superior especially in minimally weak muscles (MRC > 4) and was particularly sensitive at detecting increased variability in fiber size and more subtle myopathic changes.

MeSH terms

  • Electromyography*
  • Humans
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology*
  • Muscular Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Muscular Diseases / pathology
  • Muscular Diseases / physiopathology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Sensitivity and Specificity