Motor unit number estimation in neuromuscular disease

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Can J Neurol Sci. 2008 May;35(2):153-9.

Motor unit number estimation in neuromuscular disease.

Rashidipour O, Chan KM.

Centre for Neuroscience, Division of Physical Medicine and

Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton,

Alberta, Canada.

Motor unit number estimation (MUNE) is an electrophysiological method

designed to quantify motor unit loss in target muscles of interest.

Most of the techniques are noninvasive and are therefore well suited

for longitudinal monitoring. In this brief review, we describe the

more commonly used techniques and their applications in amyotrophic

lateral sclerosis, poliomyelitis, spinal muscular atrophy and

hereditary sensorimotor neuropathies. Findings in some of these

studies offer important pathophysiological insights. Since

conventional electrophysiologic methods are not sensible measures of

motor neuronal loss, MUNE could play a potentially important role in

the diagnosis, monitoring of disease progression and response to

treatment in neuromuscular diseases in which motor unit loss is a

major feature.