Consequences of peripheral nerve demyelination: basic and clinical aspects.

Abstract

The essential function of a nerve fiber centers on the transmission of impulses. Slowing of conduction velocities merely delays conveyance of information but failure of conduction abolishes the function. Rate-dependent block may falsify input by disturbing the neural coding. The diagnosis of conduction block is complicated by phase cancellation and many other physiologic and technical factors, which may mimic the condition. The conduction block may be reversed by increasing action current with such agents as 4-aminopirizine as well as by reducing the threshold for excitation with a sodium-potassium pump inhibitor such as digitalis. Although their mechanisms of action are poorly understood, immunoglobulin and immunosuppressive agents are also effective in some clinical entities like multifocal motor neuropathy with persistent conduction block.