AANEM News Express

Science News: Cardiovascular health and chronic axonal polyneuropathy: A population-based study

    9/22/2021
The authors in this study investigated participants of the Rotterdam Study between June 2013 and January 2017, and screened them for polyneuropathy categorized as having no, possible, probable or definite polyneuropathy.

Seward B. Rutkove, MD Honored with 2021 Innovation Award

    9/3/2021
The Innovation Award honors forward-thinking members for designing and developing products, services, or processes to enhance patient care and/or transform the quality of patient care delivery through technology and innovation. This year's winner is Dr. Rutkove. He has been selected for his incredible contributions to the field of NM and EDX medicine which include cofounding two companies, Myolex, Inc. and Haystack Diagnostics, Inc. 

Science News: Focal Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy: Onset, Course, and Distinct Features

    8/30/2021
Focal CIDP, described as involvement of brachial or lumbosacral plexus, or one or more peripheral nerves in one upper or lower limb, can pose diagnostic challenge.

Science News: Tau Protein as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

    8/30/2021
This study highlights role of Tau protein as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in ALS patients.

Science News: The Value of Sensory Nerve Conduction Studies in the Diagnosis of Guillain-Barré Syndrome

    8/19/2021
This article reviews the utility of sensory testing for GBS. Specifically, sural sensory sparing, i.e. abnormal median and ulnar SNAPs (sensory nerve action potential) amplitudes and normal sural SNAP, is 47-83% sensitive and up to 96% specific for GBS. Likewise, one study indicated an abnormal (dorsal ulnar/palmar ulnar) SNAP ratio of less than 0.78 is 87% sensitive and 100% specific for GBS.

Science News: Rate of Change in Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody Levels Predicts Myasthenia Gravis Outcome

    8/19/2021
Up to 80% of myasthenia gravis (MG) patients are seropositive for anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies (AChR-Ab) and these antibodies are routinely checked as diagnostic markers in clinical practice. However, their use in prognosis is thought to be limited.

Practice: CMS Releases Proposed Updates to Physician Fee Schedule and the Quality Payment Program

    8/19/2021
AANEM policy staff is diligently reviewing the 1,700+ page rule that was issued by the CMS on July 13, 2021. Here are a few highlights from the proposal. 
 

Ileana Howard, MD Selected as the 2021 Advocacy Award Winner

    8/19/2021
Ileana Howard, MD is the 2021 recipient of AANEM's Advocacy Award for her outstanding work in supporting veterans,along with her efforts dedicated to providing the highest level of specialty care using telehealth.  

Kerry H. Levin, MD Receives 2021 Distinguished Physician Award

    8/6/2021
Dr. Levin has been named the winner of the 2021 Distinguished Physician Award. He has been a dedicated member of AANEM since 1982, the year he graduated from his fellowship. Dr. Levin was chosen for this award due to his many years of service as a clinician and educator. 
 

Science News: Guillain-Barré Syndrome in Association With COVID-19 Infection: A Tale of Two Studies

    8/4/2021
As the COVID-19 pandemic has spread, there have been increasing reports of neurological manifestations. In one study 36.4% patients reported dysgeusia or anosmia, headaches, dizziness, stroke and encephalopathy. In another, up to 84% of patients with severe COVID-19 had neurological complaints. There have been reports of concomitant COVID-19 and GBS which led the authors to the above meta-analysis and multi-center case-control study.