clinical features of motor neurone disease
Last reviewed 01/2018
Presentation of motor neurone disease depends on the particular pathways involved:
- combined upper and lower motor neurone features are present in 65% of cases
- bulbar features are present in 25%
- muscle weakness and atrophy are present in 10%
Features usually develop gradually. The initial complaint is often non-specific, e.g. a weakening hand grip.
Characteristic complaints:
- hand - wasting, weakness, fasciculation
- bulbar involvement - dysarthria and dysphagia
- lower limb - weakness with spasticity
- difficulty in breathing
Characteristic negative features:
- no sensory loss or cognitive loss c.f. MS
- sphincters are never affected } c.f. myasthenia
- ocular muscles are never affected } gravis
clinical features of pseudobulbar palsy
clinical features of bulbar palsy