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Peripheral nerve ultrasound in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis phenotypes
Author(s) -
Schreiber Stefanie,
Abdulla Susanne,
DebskaVielhaber Grazyna,
Machts Judith,
DannhardtStieger Verena,
Feistner Helmut,
Oldag Andreas,
Goertler Michael,
Petri Susanne,
Kollewe Katja,
Kropf Siegfried,
Schreiber Frank,
Heinze HansJochen,
Dengler Reinhard,
Nestor Peter J.,
Vielhaber Stefan
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.24431
Subject(s) - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , medicine , wrist , forearm , median nerve , peripheral , ulnar nerve , lower motor neuron , upper motor neuron , motor neuron , ultrasound , anatomy , disease , radiology , elbow
In this study we sought to determine the cross‐sectional area (CSA) of peripheral nerves in patients with distinct subtypes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods: Ulnar and median nerve ultrasound was performed in 78 ALS patients [classic, n = 21; upper motor neuron dominant (UMND), n = 14; lower motor neuron dominant (LMND), n = 20; bulbar, n = 15; primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), n = 8] and 18 matched healthy controls. Results: Compared with controls, ALS patients had significant, distally pronounced reductions of ulnar CSA (forearm/wrist level) across all disease groups, except for PLS. Median nerve CSA (forearm/wrist level) did not differ between controls and ALS. Conclusion: Ulnar nerve ultrasound in ALS subgroups revealed significant differences in distal CSA values, which suggests it has value as a marker of LMN involvement. Its potential was particularly evident in the UMND and PLS groups, which can be hard to separate clinically, yet their accurate separation has major prognostic implications. Muscle Nerve 51 :669–675, 2015