Neurophysiologische Diagnostik der Amyotrophen Lateralsklerose

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease leading to the destruction of the motoneurons in the motor cortex and in the anterior horn. For the diagnosis of ALS, no reliable biomarker is available to date. The diagnosis is based on clinical examination and neurophysiological diagnostics.

The neurophysiological examination thus plays a decisive role in the diagnosis of ALS and its differential diagnosis. In the following study, the neurophysiological investigations (electroneurography, electromyography, and evoked potentials) established in ALS diagnostics are presented and a brief outlook on promising newer investigation techniques in the field of ALS such as Motor Unit Number Index and Muscle ultrasonography are given.