Muscle Fiber Conduction Velocity in HOPP

71
MUSCLE FIBER CONDUCTION VELOCITY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF FAMILIAL
HYPOKALEMIC PERIODIC PARALYSIS
Invasive vs surface determination
J.H. van der Hoeven, T.P. Links, M.J. Zwarts, T.W. van Weerden.
(Muscle Nerve 1994;17:898-905)
ABSTRACT
Muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV) in the brachial biceps muscle was determined in a large
family of patients with hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HOPP) by both a surface and an invasive
method. Other surface EMG parameters and the muscle force were also determined. Both the
surface and the invasive method showed a significantly lower mean MFCV in the proven gene
carriers but only the invasive method showed a lower MFCV in all proven carriers. It can be
concluded that MFCV determination is a reliable method to detect the membrane defect in HOPP
carriers and that the invasive method is not only easy to perform, but also more sensitive. The
muscle force and the integrated EMG at maximal voluntary contraction were lower in the carrier
group. A positive correlation between the surface MFCV and the neuromuscular efficiency (the
quotient of force and integrated EMG) was found in the controls but not in the HOPP carriers.
Since type II fibers have a higher neuromuscular efficiency, this suggests a preferential involvement
of type II fibers in HOPP.
Chapter 6
72
INTRODUCTION
The diagnosis of hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HOPP) is based on the occurrence of
hypokalemia in combination with attacks of muscle weakness or paralysis. In a number of patients it
is possible to induce attacks. Other indicators are a vacuolar myopathy in muscle biopsies from
patients with a positive family history (De Fine Olivarius and Christensen, 1965; Links et al. 1990).
Concentric needle EMG findings are slightly myopathic or not specific (Engel et al. 1965; Buruma
and Bots, 1978). Despite these characteristics, the diagnosis remains difficult. Recently however it
was shown that the muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV), measured with surface EMG, is
reduced in HOPP. Asymptomatic relatives who have inherited the disease can probably be detected
by this method (Zwarts et al. 1988). Unfortunately, the surface EMG method is unavailable in most
clinical neurophysiology laboratories. Furthermore, the measurements are not always conclusive,
sometimes because of poor signal quality and sometimes because of low normal MFCV results in
(otherwise) proven carriers. Troni et al. (1983) found a reduced MFCV in HOPP interictally with
needle electrodes. To compare the diagnostic values of these two methods, we performed surface
MFCV measurements in a large family of HOPP patients, asymptomatic (first-degree) relatives, and
controls. We also measured MFCV in a part of this group by means of needle electrodes, a
relatively simple technique. Theoretical models (Stegeman and Linssen, 1992) indicate a direct
relation between the MFCV and surface EMG parameters, i.e. the median frequency and the
integrated EMG value. Since the reduced MFCV in HOPP patients could provide a model in vivo
for studying this relation, the median frequency and the integrated EMG were measured
simultaneously.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We performed surface EMG on 33 proven carriers (mean age 42.8, range 16 - 75 years) and 56
asymptomatic first degree relatives (mean age 40.4, range 16 - 76 years). All were members of the
same family known to suffer from HOPP, as described previously (Links et al. 1990). 22 carriers
were determined on the basis of having typical attacks. 11 patients had never suffered from
paralytic attacks but were shown to be carriers either because a muscle biopsy revealed a vacuolar
myopathy, or because they had children with attacks (fig. 1). 12 proven carriers and 7
asymptomatic relatives out of the first group were also examined using an invasive MFCV method.
The measurements were performed without acetazolamide medication. Normal values (both
surface and invasive EMG) were derived from a group of 46 healthy individuals without complaints
about their neuromuscular system (mean age 45.8, range 19 - 74 years). Subjects with other known
causes for MFCV changes: such as neurogenic lesions or myogenic lesions due to other causes than
HOPP (Gruener et al. 1979; Doriguzzi et al. 1987; Zwarts and van Weerden, 1989; Zwarts and
van der Hoeven, 1990) or use of medication: such as steroids or anti-epileptics which can probably
influence MFCV (Gruener and Stern, 1972; Hopf, 1973; Troni et al. 1990) were excluded. All
subjects gave their informed consent prior to the measuring.
Muscle Fiber Conduction Velocity in HOPP
73
Surface EMG recording
The experiments were performed on the left biceps brachii muscle. The arm was fixed in a
horizontal semiflexed position at an angle of 120 degrees and was supported at the elbow and the
wrist. The isometric force of the elbow flexion was measured at the wrist with a strain gauge and
then displayed in front of the subject on a voltmeter. Three silver electrodes (diameter 2 mm) were
placed in a rigid bipolar array with a common centre electrode; interelectrode distance was 10 mm.
The localization of the electrodes was parallel to the fiber direction, nearly half way between the
innervation zone and the distal tendon. The two EMG signals were amplified differentially (Disa
EMG amplifier type 14C13) and bandpass filtered (20 - 500 Hz). The EMG signals were digitized
synchronously by a 12-bit A/D converter with two different sample rates: 6024 Hz (velocity
estimation) and 1024 Hz (power spectra) over two connected signal periods of 0.34 and 2.05
seconds respectively. The high sampling rate and consequent interpolation of the signal used for
MFCV estimation was necessary to obtain a sufficiently high time resolution. Data were analyzed
by a microcomputer (PDP 11/23) off line. The surface MFCV (S-MFCV) was calculated with the
TABLE I Results of surface EMG measurements and standard deviation (SD) in controls, proven HOPP
carriers, and asymptomatic relatives.
Controls HOPP Relatives
m/f mean SD mean SD mean SD
S-MFCV (m.s
-1
) m 4.25

0.37 3.36

0.22 4.54 0.52

f 4.10

0.35 3.57

0.48 4.56 0.63

all 4.20

0.37 3.48

0.41 4.55 0.58

Fmed (Hz) m 88.1

17.6 64.1

12.1 87.2 18.6

f 78.0

21.3 58.8

10.4 67.4 12.4

all 84.9

19.4 60.9

11.4 77.5 18.9

Max force (N) m 183

51 142

43 208 56
f 86
NS
15 76
NS
20 106 34
all 150

62 100

44 155 67
IEMG at MVC (V) m 579

262 265

118 399 195

f 379

192 165

58 233 119
all 513

259 202

98 346 199
number m 28 13 28
f 18 19 27
Abbreviations: HOPP: proven HOPP carriers, relatives: asymptomatic relatives, m/f: gender, S-MFCV:
mean muscle fiber conduction velocity, surface method, Fmed: mean median frequency, max force: force
at maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), IEMG at MVC: integrated EMG value at MVC, number: number
of subjects. Statistical analysis Students t-test, unpaired samples, 2-tailed.

significant difference between

controls and proven carriers,
NS
not significant.
Chapter 6
74
cross correlation method (Naeije and
Zorn, 1983) after linear interpolation
which raised the sample frequency to
12048 Hz. Only correlation coefficients
higher than 0.85 were accepted. The
power spectrum was computed over
the frequency range of 5-250 Hz by
applying the fast fourier transform to
the digitized signal. The frequency
resolution was 0.5 Hz. The median
frequency and the integrated EMG
were calculated. All measurements
were performed at different force levels
in duplicate at 20-30-50-75 and 100%
of maximum voluntary contraction. On
the basis of the summarized results, we
calculated the mean S-MFCV and the
mean median frequency.
Invasive MFCV (I-MFCV)
estimation
Experiments were performed in the left
brachial biceps (short head) with a
Nicolet Viking I EMG apparatus using
a modified version of the method of
Troni et al. (1983) (van der Hoeven et
al. 1993). A stimulation needle electrode (Dantec 13L64, area of uninsulated tip: 2 mm2) was
placed in the distal part of the resting muscle. A silver surface electrode was used as anode 10 to 15
mm distally. The muscle was stimulated with gradually increasing strength (suprathreshold) until a
clear twitch was palpable (1 - 2 mA, 0.2 msec, 1 Hz). Guided by the twitch, we inserted a
concentric needle electrode (Dantec 13L58) 50 - 60 mm proximally and manipulated it until a
reproducable polyphasic action potential was seen, amplitude 20 - 500 V. The signals were
amplified and bandpass filtered, 500 Hz - 10 kHz; the time base varied between 5 - 10 msec per
division. Care was taken to place the electrodes perpendicular to the skin. A 4-trace storage was
used to ensure the reproducibility of the action potentials. Only spikes larger than 20 V were used
for calculations. All latencies were measured at the positive turning points and resulting I-MFCV
was calculated. The parameters used were the mean I-MFCV, fastest and slowest I-MFCV, and
ratio fastest / slowest I-MFCV (F/S ratio), which indicates the scatter in conduction velocities.
89 family members
22 attacks
67 no attacks
4 pos. biopsy 63 no biopsy
7 children with attacks
56 other first
line relatives
33 proven carriers
56 asymptomatic
relatives
Figure 1. Diagram showing the carrier status of all
family members tested with the surface EMG method.
Muscle Fiber Conduction Velocity in HOPP
75
Statistics
Surface EMG results were analyzed by means of Students t-test, unpaired samples, 2-tailed. The
Mann-Whitney non-parametric test, unpaired samples, 2-tailed, was used to test the difference of
means in the invasive EMG groups. Statistical significance was accepted at a level of 5%.
RESULTS
Surface EMG
The surface EMG results are summarized in table I. Since the mean S-MFCV and the mean median
frequency of the male and female controls were not significantly different (p>0.05), these data were
pooled. In 6 asymptomatic relatives it was not possible to get a reliable S-MFCV estimation, due to
correlation coefficients lower than 0.85. In one proven carrier (on the basis of previous attacks) no
surface or invasive measurement at all could be done because of a nearly total paralysis of the
elbow flexors. The mean S-MFCV in the HOPP carriers was significantly lower than in the
controls. The same was found for the median frequency but with a greater overlap between the two
groups (fig 2). Four asymptomatic relatives showed S-MFCV values in the same range as the
proven carriers. On the other hand, 7 out of the 22 carriers with attacks and 3 out of the 11 carriers
Figure 2. Relation between the muscle fiber conduction velocity, surface method (S-MFCV) and
the median frequency (Fmed) of the proven carriers, asymptomatic relatives, and healthy
controls. Abbreviations: HOPP/a: HOPP-attacks, HOPP/m: HOPP-myopathy, HOPP/c: HOPP-
children with attacks, relatives: asymptomatic relatives. Dotted lines: 5th percentile of the control
values of the mean Fmed (horizontal line) and the mean S-MFCV (vertical line). The control data
are omitted to simplify the figure.
Chapter 6
76
without attacks showed S-MFCV values in the low-normal range (above the 5th percentile value),
which is a sensitivity of 70%. Table I shows the mean maximal force at elbow flexion for the
different groups. The force in the male patient group was lower than in the controls, whereas in the
females the differences were not significant. The integrated EMG data showed clearly lower values
in the patient group, both for males and females. The force and integrated EMG values in the
asymptomatic carriers and the controls were not significantly different. A positive correlation
between max integrated EMG and max force was found in the control group as well as in the
HOPP patients. When the S-MFCV is plotted against the neuromuscular efficiency, defined as the
quotient of force and integrated EMG, a positive correlation is found in the controls and in the
asymptomatic relatives. There was no such correlation in the HOPP patient group (fig. 3).
Invasive MFCV
In table II a summary of the I-MFCV values is given. The mean I-MFCV in the HOPP carriers was
significantly lower than in the controls and in the asymptomatic relatives: in the controls a mean I-
MFCV value (data pooled for both sexes) of 3.17 m.s
-1
(SD 0.22), in the group of proven carriers a
mean I-MFCV value of 2.36 m.s
-1
(SD 0.31), and in the asymptomatic relatives a mean I-MFCV
value of 3.15 m.s
-1
(SD 0.51). A plot of I-MFCV vs S-MFCV (fig. 4) shows the division between
the controls and proven carriers. This is mainly due to the much lower I-MFCV results. Both the
slowest and fastest fibers showed lower values in the group of proven carriers (fig. 5 and 6). The
relative decrease of the slowest fibers was more pronounced in the HOPP carriers giving them a
higher F/S ratio. All proven carriers differed from the controls when the I-MFCV was plotted
against the F/S ratio (fig. 7), which is a sensitivity of 100%. Two asymptomatic relatives showed
similar disturbances with respect to the I-MFCV and S-MFCV, the slowest and fastest measured
fibers, and the F/S ratio; this suggests that they belong to the group of carriers.
TABLE 2. Results of invasive MFCV measurements and standard deviation (SD) in
controls, proven HOPP carriers, and asymptomatic relatives
Controls HOPP Relatives
mean SD mean SD mean SD
mean (m.s
-1
) 3.17

0.22 2.35

0.32 3.15 0.51

slow (m.s
-1
) 2.75

0.23 1.59

0.33 2.69 0.63

fast (m.s
-1
) 3.68

0.31 3.32

0.33 3.73 0.41

F/S ratio 1.35

0.13 2.23

0.57 1.47 0.38

number 46 12 9
Abbreviations: mean: mean I-MFCV, slow: mean of slowest measured fibers, fast: mean
of fastest fibers measured, F/S ratio: mean ratio between fastest and slowest fibers
measured, spikes pro ins: number of spikes pro insertion, n: number of measurements.
Statistical analysis Mann-Whitney non-parametric test, unpaired samples, 2-tailed,

significant difference between controls and proven carriers.

Muscle Fiber Conduction Velocity in HOPP
77
DISCUSSION
The surface EMG findings agree with those of our previous study on a smaller group of patients
from this family (Zwarts et al. 1988). The S-MFCV levels were clearly lower in most proven
carriers and there were no significant differences in the mean S-MFCV values between the
asymptomatic relatives and the controls. Detecting carriers of the membrane defect with the surface
MFCV method was not in all cases conclusive (sensitivity of 70%). It was, however, possible to
show the MFCV disturbances in all proven carriers by the invasive MFCV determination technique
(figs. 4, 5 and 7) but the specificity of neither methods is known. The low S-MFCV and median
Figure 3. Relation between the muscle fiber conduction velocity, surface method (S-MFCV) and
the neuromuscular efficiency (NME): Force / integrated EMG (IEMG), both at maximal
voluntary contraction in proven HOPP carriers and in healthy controls. Dotted line (HOPP): not
significantly different from zero, Dashed line (controls): significantly different from zero, r=0.53,
p<0.0001. Linear regression analysis.
Chapter 6
78
frequency values found in four subjects (fig. 2) suggest that some gene carriers are included in the
group of asymptomatic relatives. Two asymptomatic relatives with S-MFCV values in the 'carrier'
range were also examined by means of the invasive method and showed low I-MFCV values as
well (fig. 4). Additionally, some of the subjects who in our previous study belonged to the group of
asymptomatic carriers are now classified as proven carriers because of the results of muscle biopsy
performed later or because they now have children with attacks. The finding of a low MFCV in
combination with a positive family history seems therefore highly suggestive for a HOPP gene
carrier.
The discrepancy between the findings of these two methods can be explained by the draw-
backs of the surface method. (1) Probably the most important problem is a less than optimal
electrode location resulting in an overestimation of the S-MFCV (Sollie et al. 1985; Arendt-Nielsen
and Zwarts, 1989). (2) Since the source of the electrical activity, the muscle fiber, has to be
activated volitionally, variations in the central activation pattern are unknown. Motor units are
recruited according to their size (Henneman, 1957) and the MUs with the highest force generating
capacity (generally type 2 fibers) show mainly the highest MFCVs (Andreassen and
Arendt-Nielsen, 1987). Additionally, rate-coding influences the MFCV. This has been related to the
short period of hyperpolarization following repolarization (Nishizono et al. 1989; Mihelin et al.
1991). (3) The distance between the active fibers and the electrodes is variable. An increase in
Figure 4. Relation between the muscle fiber conduction velocity, invasive method (I-MFCV) and
the muscle fiber conduction velocity, surface method (S-MFCV) in the proven carriers,
asymptomatic relatives and healthy controls. Abbreviations: HOPP/a: HOPP- attacks, HOPP/m:
HOPP-myopathy, HOPP/c: HOPP-children with attacks, relatives: asymptomatic relatives.
Horizontal dotted line: 5th percentile value of the mean S-MFCV. Vertical dotted line: mean I-
MFCV - 2 SD. Solid line: equality line, X=Y.
Muscle Fiber Conduction Velocity in HOPP
79
radial observation distance results in a strong decrease in the signal / noise ratio (Stegeman and
Linssen, 1992). Since noise has no phase shift, overestimation of MFCV will result in the extreme
cases. (4) Electrical inhomogeneous tissue between the muscle fibers and the recording electrodes
sometimes results in signals without clear time delay resulting in an overestimation of the MFCV
(Broman et al. 1985; Schneider and Rau, 1991). (5) A finite fiber length results in the appearance
of a positive, constant latency peak which will result in decrease or absence of latency. However, in
bipolar recordings these non-moving potentials are largely cancelled (Gootzen et al. 1991).
The invasive method, on the other hand, is a much simpler and more rapid procedure
requiring only minimal patient cooperation. Its advantage is the non-volitional, direct activation of
the resting muscle, irrespective of the state of innervation (Troni et al. 1983). We were able to
measure interictally nearly all subjects with the invasive method, except one carrier whose biceps
muscle was almost totally paralyzed due to an advanced myopathy. The method can be performed
with every modern EMG apparatus. The positioning of the electrodes is facilitated by the use of a
concentric needle uptake electrode instead of the single fiber electrode proposed by Troni et al.
(1983). Buchthal et al. and Meadows also pointed out the possibility of measuring I-MFCV with a
concentric needle electrode, although in a different experimental set-up (Buchthal et al. 1955;
Meadows, 1971). Use of the concentric needle electrode might cause some loss of selectivity, but
most of the recording selectivity is due to the high-pass filtering (Payan, 1978). Despite the
technical differences, our MFCV results in controls are well within the range found by those who
Figure 5. Plot of slowest conducting fibers (slowest I-MFCV) vs fastest conducting fibers (fastest
I-MFCV) in the proven carriers, asymptomatic relatives, and healthy controls. Abbreviations:
HOPP/a: HOPP-attacks, HOPP/m: HOPP-myopathy, HOPP/c: HOPP-children with attacks,
relatives: asymptomatic relatives. Note that the lower values of the slowest I-MFCV are much
more pronounced than those of the fastest I-MFCV.
Chapter 6
80
used different techniques (Arendt-Nielsen and Zwarts, 1989). A second possible drawback of the
invasive method is that the occurrence of slower conducting fibers can vary locally within the
muscle. Finding these "late" potentials is made much easier because of the greater uptake area of
the concentric needle combined with a temporary lowering of the high-pass filter setting and slight
needle repositions. In HOPP, however, almost all fibers have the same membrane disturbance,
which makes a non-homogenous muscle involvement less likely.
The muscle force in the HOPP carriers is generally lower, especially in males. 80% of the
HOPP patients in this family complained about fluctuations of muscle strength (Links, 1992) which
suggests that the muscle fibers may be more or less permanently blocked. This phenomenon would
also explain the increase in force after therapy with carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (Dalakas and
Engel, 1983; Links et al. 1988). In such cases small variations in the membrane potential probably
cause variation in the number of blocked fibers, resulting in changes in muscle force or a (partial)
paralytic attack (De Grandis et al. 1978; Troni et al. 1983; Rudel et al. 1984). This would probably
also explain the fact that the lowered I-MFCV values in the slowest fibers are clearly more
pronounced than those of the fastest fibers (fig. 5).
The significantly lower integrated EMG values at maximal force in the patient group (table
I) can be explained in various ways. (1) The partial depolarization of the muscle membrane results
in action potentials of lower amplitude (Trontelj et al. 1987) causing lower integrated EMG levels.
(2) The frequency change of the signal could also alter this relation. Since the surface electrodes act
as a high pass filter, which depends on the electrode separation (Zipp, 1978), the change of the
Figure 6. Examples of muscle fiber conduction velocity determination, invasive method, biceps
brachii muscle. Two traces superimposed. A. Healthy control. B. Proven HOPP carrier.
Muscle Fiber Conduction Velocity in HOPP
81
signal to lower frequencies will result in the transfer of less energy. (3) Model studies indicate that
low values of the integrated EMG could be a direct consequence of a reduced MFCV (Stegeman
and Linssen, 1992). (4) Additionally, we hypothesize an effect of phase cancellation: the general
decrease in conduction velocity will result in an increase in latency differences, based on the
reciprocal relationship of conduction velocity and latency. A direct consequence of this relationship
is an increase in the temporal dispersion of the depolarization zone within the motor unit. This
effect will cause a phase cancellation within the summated potential of an activated motor unit, as
recorded at some distance by surface electrodes.
A puzzling phenomenon in a generalized muscle disease like HOPP is the relatively
unspecific findings at concentric needle EMG interictally. Myopathic changes are reported in only
some of the cases, while often the absence of clear abnormalities is emphasized (De Fine Olivarius
and Christensen, 1965; Engel et al. 1965; Buruma and Bots, 1978). We suggest the following
explanations. (1) The low-pass filter properties of tissue are strongly dependent on the distance to
the source. Close to the source the reduced MFCV does not influence the frequency content as
much as in the case of surface electrodes (Lindstrom and Petersen, 1983; Lateva, 1988). (2) In
HOPP a preferential atrophy of type II fibers is found (Brooke and Engel, 1969). So, if all fibers
within a motor unit have a conduction slowing more or less to the same degree, a myopathic
pattern based on the differences in MFCV will only be found at a larger distance from the end-plate
zone. In that case small differences in conduction velocity will result in relatively larger differences
Figure 7. Relation between the muscle fiber conduction velocity, invasive method (I-MFCV) and
the ratio between fastest and slowest conducting fibers (F/S ratio) of the proven carriers,
asymptomatic relatives, and healthy controls. Abbreviations: HOPP/a: HOPP-attacks, HOPP/m:
HOPP-myopathy, HOPP/c: HOPP-children with attacks, relatives: asymptomatic relatives.
Horizontal dotted line: mean F/S ratio + 2 SD. Vertical dotted line: mean I-MFCV - 2 SD.
Chapter 6
82
in latency. (3) A loss of excitable muscle fibers will have no influence on the MUAP waveform
(Nandedkar and Sanders, 1989).
When the neuromuscular efficiency and the mean S-MFCV, both at maximum force, were
plotted against each other (fig. 3), a positive correlation was found in the controls. We suggest that
this is a reflection of differences in neuromuscular efficiency between type I and type II motor units.
The type II motor units have the highest values with respect to muscle fiber diameters and,
consequently, MFCV. This was also reflected in the positive correlation between force and MFCV
(Andreassen and Arendt-Nielsen, 1987; Zwarts et al. 1988). Additionally, the maximal force of
type II fibers may be about 4 times that of type I fibers (Linssen et al. 1991). On the other hand,
there is no indication that the (extracellular) single fiber action potential, which forms the basis of
the integrated EMG, differs to such an extent in the two fiber types (Wallinga-de Jonge et al.
1985). This implies that the highest neuromuscular efficiency values should be found in type II
fibers. However, the positive correlation between the S-MFCV and the neuromuscular efficiency
was lacking in the HOPP patient group as was the positive correlation between force and MFCV
(Zwarts et al. 1988). This could be an effect of the preferential dysfunction (Zwarts et al. 1988) or
the atrophy (Brooke and Engel, 1969) of type II fibers in HOPP, probably in combination with an
altered relationship between the membrane properties and the muscle force. A comparable
dissociation between force and integrated EMG was found during the phase of "transient paresis"
in myotonica congenita (Zwarts and van Weerden, 1989).
In conclusion, we found clear changes in the MFCV in a large family of HOPP patients
with the surface as well as with the invasive determination method. Since, however, only the
invasive determination method showed MFCV disturbance in all proven carriers, we suggest that it
is more sensitive than the surface method in detecting carriers of the membrane defect.
Furthermore, the method can be easily performed without much discomfort for the patients. The
reduced MFCV causes relatively low integrated EMG values. A significant positive correlation
between the S-MFCV and the neuromuscular efficiency (the quotient of force and integrated
EMG) was found in the control group but not in the HOPP patients. This suggests a preferential
involvement of type II muscle fibers in combination with an altered relation between the membrane
properties and the muscle force.
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