FASCICULATIONS - WHAT DO WE KNOW OF THEIR SIGNIFICANCE

Fasciculations are observed in patients with neurogenic disorders and in healthy individuals. Depending on the associated clinical symptoms and signs, they may signify the presence of a variety of disorders of the lower motor neuron. Divergent and occasionally conflicting opinion s prevail regarding the aetiology, pathogenesis, clinical significance , neurophysiological characteristics and the physiological site of ori gin of fasciculations. In this review we examine the published literat ure and attempt to clarify these issues. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V .