AANEM News Express

AANEM 2020 Bylaws Revision Passes

    9/16/2020
The AANEM 2020 Bylaws Revision passed with a vote of 711 to 8.

Science News: Antibody and Macrophage-Mediated Segmental Demyelination in Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy

    9/14/2020
Retrospective study of immune reactivity to myelin in 94 patients with diagnoses of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Nerve biopsy was done for those who did not fulfill these criteria at first assessment.

AANEM Assists in Creation of New Codes to Account for Additional Services During Public Health Emergency

    9/9/2020
On September 8, 2020 the American Medical Association (AMA) published an update to the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code set that includes two new code additions for reporting medical services required by the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The two additions have been approved for immediate use.
 

Dr. Alexander Chamessian Receives ANF Development Grant

    9/8/2020
Alexander Chamessian, MD, PhD, has been selected as a recipient of an American Neuromuscular Foundation (ANF) Development Grant. The ANF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and electrodiagnostic research and medicine. When you donate to the ANF, 100% of your gift is exclusively used to fund researchers like Dr. Chamessian, or their education. This is made possible by the AANEM, which covers all of the ANF’s administrative costs.
 

Science News: Antidiabetics, Statins, and the Risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

    9/1/2020
Submitted by Nandita Keole, MD

Drugs used to treat glucose or lipid metabolism have been suggested as risk factors for ALS. Population based case control study ( 5 controls for each case of ALS) done in Sweden to examine the association between statins, antidiabetics, and subsequent development of ALS.

CMS Announces Option to Opt-out of MIPS for 2020

    8/24/2020
CMS announced that MIPS eligible clinicians will have the choice to opt-out completely or partially from the 2020 MIPS program by completing a hardship exemption application and indicating that it is due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

Dr. R. James Cotton Receives Clinical Research Fellowship From the American Neuromuscular Foundation

    8/19/2020
R. James Cotton, MD, PhD, has been selected as the recipient of the American Neuromuscular Foundation’s (ANF) Clinical Research Fellowship to provide insights and answers about the safety and effectiveness of the neurological application of neurotoxins.

Science News: Ultrasound Guidance Increases Diagnostic Yield of Needle EMG in Plegic Muscle

    8/17/2020
Submitted by Elliot Bodofsky, MD
Edited by Francisco Gomez, MD

Major peripheral nerve injury is common and quite disabling, and the detection of early reinnervation is crucial in determining prognosis and treatment. Standard needle EMG involves random muscle needle insertion, and hence can miss minimal residual muscle activity.

Science News: A Model to Predict the Probability of Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy

    8/3/2020
Submitted by Elliot Bodofsky, MD
Edited by Hristelina Ilieva, MD, PhD

The goal of this research was developing a predictive model to differentiate acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) from non-demyelinating Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), based on NCSs performed at 1-20 days after onset and at 3-8 weeks.