{"title":"Nerve conduction study on the split-hand plus index in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: correlations with lower motor neuron impairment.","authors":"Stefano Zoccolella, Giammarco Milella, Alessia Giugno, Marco Filardi, Eustachio D'Errico, Ludovica Tamburrino, Vito Devitofrancesco, Rosaria Damato, Fulvia Piomboni, Salvatore Misceo, Giancarlo Logroscino","doi":"10.1007/s10072-024-07582-w","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>In the arms of patients with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) two peculiar patterns of dissociated muscular atrophy have been described: the split-hand sign (with predominant atrophy of the lateral aspect of the hand, compared to hypothenar eminence) and the split-hand-plus sign (SHPS), a predominant abductor pollicis brevis (ABP) atrophy with sparing of flexor pollicis longus (FPL).</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>In this case-control study, we evaluated the diagnostic utility of a neurophysiological indicator of SHPS and assessed its association with clinical features.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We prospectively studied 59 incident ALS patients, 61 patients with ALS-mimic disorders (OND) and 61 non-neurological controls (NNCs). ABP and FPL compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) amplitudes were obtained by supramaximal stimulation of median nerve at elbow. Split-hand plus index (SHPI) was calculated according to the formula: APB-CMAP/FPL-CMAP.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>SHPI was significantly lower in ALS compared to OND patients and NNCs (p < 0.0001). SHPI value < 1 was observed in 2% of NNCs and 9% of OND patients and demonstrated an accuracy of 71% in differentiating ALS from OND and an accuracy of 74% in differentiating ALS from NNC. SHPI was associated with higher LMN score, and higher disease severity as quantified by the ALSFRS-r.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results indicate that SHPI is a reliable indicator to distinguish ALS patients from ONDs and NNCs. SHPI was significantly associated to the degree of lower motor neuron impairment but showed no association with upper motoneuron impairment.</p>","PeriodicalId":19191,"journal":{"name":"Neurological Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Neurological Sciences","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-024-07582-w","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/5/14 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CLINICAL NEUROLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: In the arms of patients with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) two peculiar patterns of dissociated muscular atrophy have been described: the split-hand sign (with predominant atrophy of the lateral aspect of the hand, compared to hypothenar eminence) and the split-hand-plus sign (SHPS), a predominant abductor pollicis brevis (ABP) atrophy with sparing of flexor pollicis longus (FPL).
Aims: In this case-control study, we evaluated the diagnostic utility of a neurophysiological indicator of SHPS and assessed its association with clinical features.
Methods: We prospectively studied 59 incident ALS patients, 61 patients with ALS-mimic disorders (OND) and 61 non-neurological controls (NNCs). ABP and FPL compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) amplitudes were obtained by supramaximal stimulation of median nerve at elbow. Split-hand plus index (SHPI) was calculated according to the formula: APB-CMAP/FPL-CMAP.
Results: SHPI was significantly lower in ALS compared to OND patients and NNCs (p < 0.0001). SHPI value < 1 was observed in 2% of NNCs and 9% of OND patients and demonstrated an accuracy of 71% in differentiating ALS from OND and an accuracy of 74% in differentiating ALS from NNC. SHPI was associated with higher LMN score, and higher disease severity as quantified by the ALSFRS-r.
Conclusion: Our results indicate that SHPI is a reliable indicator to distinguish ALS patients from ONDs and NNCs. SHPI was significantly associated to the degree of lower motor neuron impairment but showed no association with upper motoneuron impairment.
期刊介绍:
Neurological Sciences is intended to provide a medium for the communication of results and ideas in the field of neuroscience. The journal welcomes contributions in both the basic and clinical aspects of the neurosciences. The official language of the journal is English. Reports are published in the form of original articles, short communications, editorials, reviews and letters to the editor. Original articles present the results of experimental or clinical studies in the neurosciences, while short communications are succinct reports permitting the rapid publication of novel results. Original contributions may be submitted for the special sections History of Neurology, Health Care and Neurological Digressions - a forum for cultural topics related to the neurosciences. The journal also publishes correspondence book reviews, meeting reports and announcements.