Usefulness of phrenic nerve conduction study in early diagnosis of isolated respiratory onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Lee, Dong Eun; Park, Donghwi; Kim, Jong Kun; Park, Jin-Sung

J Korean Soc Emerg Med > Volume 29(2); 2018 > Article

Case Report

Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine 2018;29(2): 236-239.

Usefulness of phrenic nerve conduction study in early diagnosis of isolated respiratory onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

¹Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
²Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Daegu Fatima Hospital, Daegu, Korea
³Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, Korea

Correspondence

Jin-Sung Park ,Tel: 053-200-2168, Fax: 053-200-2029, Email: neurojspark@gmail.com,

Received: October 23, 2017; Revised: December 10, 2017 Accepted: December 11, 2017. Published online: April 30, 2018.

ABSTRACT

Isolated respiratory onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare clinical manifestation and the diagnosis can be challenging. A 72-year-old man presented with dyspnea and hypercapnia that had started 11 months earlier. A phrenic nerve study was conducted and he was diagnosed promptly with ALS with no significant time delay. The phrenic nerve study is a noninvasive and useful tool in the diagnosis of respiratory onset ALS that can be applied easily in an emergency department.

Key words: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Dyspnea; Fasciculation; Phrenic nerve study