Utility of single fibre electromyography (SFEMG)and motor unit number estimation technique (MUNE) in the diagnosis and differentiation of polyneuropathies of different aetiology Authors Tahseen Mohsin Qader Department of Physiology, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq Qasim Abdullah Department of Physiology, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq DOI: https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.9364 Keywords: Single fibre electromyography, Motor unit number index, Polyneuropathy classification, Nerve conduction studies Abstract Objectives: To determine whether single fibre electromyography and motor unit number index can distinguish between axonal and myelin lesions in polyneuropathies. Method: This case-control study was conducted at the Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Duhok, Iraq, and the Neurophysiology Department, Hawler Teaching Hospital, Erbil, Iraq, from January 2021 to March 2022. Group A had patients diagnosed with polyneuropathy regardless of the aetiology, while group B had age-matched healthy controls. Both groups were subjected to single fibre electromyography and motor unit number index as well as conventional nerve conduction study and concentric needle electromyography. Data was analysed using SPSS 26. Results: Of the 140 subjects, 60(43%) were patients in group A; 40(67%) males and 20(33%) females with mean age 55.3±7.2 years. There were 80(57%) controls in group B; 43(54%) females and 37(46%) males with mean age 53.81±7.15. Group A had significantly higher single fibre electromyography jitter, and mean consecutive difference (MCD) values than group B (p<0.05). Group A patients with axonal polyneuropathy had a higher mean jitter (MCD) value (36.476.7ms) than those with demyelinating polyneuropathy (23.262.31 ms) (P <0.05). Patients in group A had a motor unit number index value with a significantly lower mean value (p<0.05) when compared to the controls. Axonal polyneuropathy patients had a lower MUNIX value (99.612.8) than demyelinating polyneuropathy patients (149.845.7) (P< 0.05). Conclusions: Single fibre electromyography and motor unit number index could help differentiate between the pathophysiology of axonal and demyelinating polyneuropathy. Key Words: Single fibre electromyography, Motor unit number index, Polyneuropathy classification, Nerve conduction studies. Author Biography Qasim Abdullah, Department of Physiology, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq Downloads Full Text Article Published 2024-03-20 How to Cite Qader, T. M., & Abdullah, Q. (2024). Utility of single fibre electromyography (SFEMG)and motor unit number estimation technique (MUNE) in the diagnosis and differentiation of polyneuropathies of different aetiology. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 74(4), 677–683. https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.9364 More Citation Formats ACM ACS APA ABNT Chicago Harvard IEEE MLA Turabian Vancouver Download Citation Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS) BibTeX Issue Vol. 74 No. 4 (2024): APRIL Section RESEARCH ARTICLE License Copyright (c) 2024 Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.