Motor nerve conduction velocity slowed in segmental vitiligo

(HealthDay)—Segmental vitiligo (SV) compromises motor nerves in the lesional limbs, according to a study published online Feb. 24 in the International Journal of Dermatology.

Jun Zhou, M.D., from Fudan University in Shanghai, and colleagues compared SV patients' lesional side of their body to the contralateral normal side to examine the effects of SV on nerve conduction velocity (NCV). One hundred six patients visiting outpatient dermatological clinics were enrolled. NCVs were measured on the limbs and face, including motor and sensory nerves.

The researchers found that the motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) was significantly slower in the limbs on the lesional side of the body compared with the normal contralateral side (P = 0.006). Significant impairment in MCV was seen for SV at the stable stage versus SV at the progressive stage. Lesional and normal sides of the body did not differ significantly in other parameters of NCV. There was no difference in compound muscle action potentials in the face between the lesional and healthy sides.

"In conclusion, patients with SV showed compromised MCV in the motor nerves of limbs," the authors write. "Further studies need to include a larger number of patients to investigate specific nerve function in the SV population."

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