Immunohistochemical study of muscle biopsy in children with cerebral palsy

Brain Dev. 2002 Mar;24(2):63-6. doi: 10.1016/s0387-7604(01)00394-1.

Abstract

Muscle biopsy was examined in 20 children with cerebral palsy, using immunohistochemical methods for marker of denervation neural cell adhesion molecules (N-CAM) in addition to standard techniques. Histological and histochemical study showed mild myopathic changes, type 1 predominance, and type 1 and type 2 hypotrophy, in accord with previous observations. Immunohistochemical study showed N-CAM expression in most biopsies (15/20), usually in scattered fibers, whereas in four patients aged less than 6 years it was expressed in grouped fibers. Our study supports the hypothesis of motor unit remodeling as a consequence of spasticity, especially in early phases of the disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Biopsy
  • Cerebral Palsy / complications*
  • Cerebral Palsy / metabolism
  • Cerebral Palsy / pathology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch / chemistry
  • Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch / pathology
  • Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch / chemistry
  • Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch / pathology
  • Muscle Spasticity / etiology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / chemistry*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology*
  • Muscular Atrophy / etiology
  • Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / analysis*

Substances

  • Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules