Electrophysiological and morphological changes in skeletal muscles and peripheral nervesin atherosclerotic vascular disease

Abstract

Summary. Aim: to systematize data on structural, functional and electrophysiological changes in skeletal muscles and peripheral nerves, to determine the informative value of electrodiagnostic methods of peripheral nerve and muscle damage associated with atherosclerotic vascular disease, and to identify unexplored aspects of systemic influence of atherosclerosis on peripheral nerves and muscles. Materials and Methods. We reviewed 23 scientific publications from electronic databases, such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, National Institutes of Health (NIH), ScienceDirect and eLibrary. Ten articles (9 foreign and 1 Russian) describing the results of electrophysiological, morpho- logical, pathophysiological and biochemical changes in peripheral nerves and muscles associated with atherosclerotic vascular disease of the lower extremities were selected for the review. Results. The presented articles describe morphologic changes in skeletal muscles and 

peripheral nerves resulting from ischemia associated with atherosclerotic or embolic nature of limb arterial lesions. Electrophysiological study of peripheral nerves did not demonstrate a single pattern of damage; however, most authors reported its axonal character. Some studies had technical defects manifested as the absence of skin temperature measurement of the examined limbs. At the same time, when needle electromyography was performed, only the muscles of the lower limbs were studied. Conclusion. We confirmed the effect of systemic atherosclerosis on skeletal muscles, long and short peripheral nerves, as well as electrophysiological parameters. However, the changes detected in such patients, not only in ischemic limbs with typical clinical manifestations, but also in other regions, are still under discussion.

For citation: Seliverstova E.G., Varygin V.I., Kozlovskiy B.V., Sinkin M.V. Electrophysiological and morphological changes in skeletal muscles and peripheral nerves in atherosclerotic vascular disease. Tromboz, gemostaz i reologiya. 2025;(4):4–11. (In Russ.).

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