Grimaldi S, Duprat L, Grapperon AM, Verschueren A, Delmont E, Attarian S. Global motor unit number index sum score for assessing the loss of lower motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Muscle Nerve 2017;
56:202-206. [PMID:
28164325 DOI:
10.1002/mus.25595]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Revised: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
We propose a motor unit number index (MUNIX) global sum score in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to estimate the loss of functional motor units.
METHODS
MUNIX was assessed for 18 ALS patients and 17 healthy controls in 7 muscles: the abductor pollicis brevis (APB), abductor digiti minimi (ADM), tibialis anterior (TA), deltoid, trapezius, submental complex, and orbicularis oris.
RESULTS
MUNIX was significantly lower in ALS patients than in healthy controls for the APB, ADM, TA, and trapezius muscles. The MUNIX sum score of 4 muscles (ADM + APB + trapezius + TA) was lower in ALS patients (P = 0.01) and was correlated with clinical scores.
DISCUSSION
The global MUNIX sum score proposed in this study estimates the loss of lower motor neurons in several body regions, including the trapezius, and is correlated with clinical impairment in ALS patients. Muscle Nerve 56: 202-206, 2017.
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