Neurophysiologic analysis of neuromuscular symptoms in UK Gulf War veterans: a controlled study

Abstract

Background: UK veterans who were deployed to the Gulf in 1990 to 1991 reported higher prevalence of neuromuscular symptoms.

Objective: To investigate whether these Gulf War-related symptoms were associated with objective evidence of neuromuscular dysfunction.

Methods: Forty-nine Gulf War veterans with more than four neuromuscular symptoms (Gulf-ill), 26 Gulf-well veterans, 13 symptomatic Bosnian veterans (Bosnia-ill), and 22 symptomatic veterans who were not deployed to the Gulf (Era-ill) underwent detailed neurophysiologic assessment: nerve conduction studies, quantitative sensory and autonomic testing, and concentric needle and single-fiber electromyography (EMG).

Results: Nerve conduction studies detected carpal tunnel syndrome in two Gulf-ill, two Gulf-well, one Bosnia-ill, and three Era-ill veterans. Ulnar neuropathy was detected in one Gulf-ill and two Era-ill veterans. However, results of detailed nerve conduction studies of the Gulf-ill veterans were comparable with results observed in the other three groups. Quantitative sensory and autonomic assessments also failed to show any specific abnormalities in the Gulf-ill group. Similarly, quantitative assessment of concentric needle and single-fiber EMG detected no chronic denervation or myopathic changes or any abnormalities of neuromuscular transmission in the Gulf-ill veterans.

Conclusion: Gulf War-related neuromuscular symptoms are not associated with specific impairments of peripheral nerves, neuromuscular junctions, or skeletal muscles.