Electrodiagnostic referrals and neuromuscular disease pattern in East Africa: Experience from a tertiary hospital in Ethiopia

Clinical Neurophysiology Practice

Biniyam A. Ayele¹  Yared Z. Zewde²  Fikru T. Kelemu³  Abenet T. Mengesha³  Meron A. G/Wolde³  Yohannes D. Gelan³  Seid A. Gugssa³  Dereje M. Oda³  Hanna D. Belay³ 

[1] Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia;Corresponding author at: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box: 41690, Zambia Street, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.;Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia;

关键词: Electrodiagnosis;    Neuromuscular disorders;    Nerve conduction study;    Electromyography;    Motor axon polyneuropathy;    Ethiopia;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Objective: We present a retrospective cross-sectional review of the electrodiagnostic (EDX) referral and diagnostic patterns in patients with suspected neuromuscular conditions at a tertiary hospital in Ethiopia. Methods: Between 2016 and 2019, 313 patients were evaluated at the EDX lab in Tikur Anbessa Specialised Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In our patients, nerve conduction study and when appropriate needle electromyography was done. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from a digital registry. Results: Polyneuropathy (19.8%), carpal tunnel syndrome (12.1%), and lumbosacral radiculopathy (9.9 %) were the top three reasons for EDX referral in Ethiopia. Among them, polyneuropathy was the most frequent electrodiagnosis, where diffuse axonal and demyelinating subtypes accounted for 54% and 18.8%, respectively. Guillain-Barre syndrome was suspected in 18 patients and 15 had EDX confirmed motor axon polyneuropathy while three patients had demyelinating variant. Although a quarter (26.2%) of the referrals had a normal EDX, abnormal test results were significantly associated with weakness (95% CI: 3.29–7.04, p < 0.001), bound to wheelchair (95% CI: 1.86–2.87, p = 0.01) and having a specific diagnosis at time of referral (95% CI: 2.53–4.68, p = 0.007). Conclusions: Diffuse and entrapment neuropathies were the main reasons for electrodiagnosis test referrals in Ethiopia. Also, motor axonal variant was the most common type of inflammatory polyneuropathy diagnosed with EDX. Significance: Proper patient evaluation and documentation significantly improves the diagnostic yield and cost-effectiveness of EDX testing in a resource-poor countries like Ethiopia. This might be achieved through educating medical students, residents, and other care providers on the basics of EDX and its indications for correct use in the clinical care.

【 授权许可】

Unknown