Reinnervation cannot be interpreted as an indicator of electrophysiologic improvement in amyothrophic lateral sclerosis.

Abstract

Denervation and reinnervation comprise a dynamic process that begins in the early periods of amyothrophic lateral sclerosis and lasts until the final individual motor neuron dies. A dynamic process like denervation-reinnervation that is found in the natural course of the disease can not be presented as a neurophysiologic measure. Other parameters, such as motor unit number estimation, compound muscle action potential amplitude and neurophysiologic index, seem more appropriate for therapeutic trials.