Fasciculation in limbs serves as the predictor of ALS progression: an ultrasound study.

IF 2.4 4区医学 Q2 CLINICAL NEUROLOGY

Neurological Sciences Pub Date : 2025-10-08 DOI:10.1007/s10072-025-08533-9

Nan Hu, Ming Qi, Huihong Tian, Jianfeng Ding, Dongchao Shen, Xunzhe Yang, Liying Cui, Jingwen Niu, Mingsheng Liu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective: To explore the predictive effects of fasciculation by ultrasound in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) progression.

Methods: Sporadic ALS patients were consecutively recruited and followed up 3 to 6 months after the initial visit. Muscle ultrasound examination was conducted at the baseline to detect the severity score of fasciculations on bilateral elbow flexor and extensor, ankle dorsiflexor and plantar flexor of each patient, the sum of which was defined as the total fasciculation score. Baseline and follow-up ALS functional research scale-revised (ALSFRS-R) score and muscle strength were collected. The progression of ALS was reflected by the decline rate of ALSFRS-R score and proportion of muscles with decreased strength.

Results: Among 33 ALS patients who completed the follow-up, the total fasciculation score was positively correlated with the ALSFRS-R progression rate (rho = 0.029, p < 0.001). Patients with low levels of the total fasciculation score had a significantly lower risk of rapid ALSFRS-R progression during follow-up compared to those with high levels of the total fasciculation score (HR 0.132, 95%CI 0.037-0.476). The frequencies of decline in muscle strength at the follow up were 76.32% and 16.54% among muscles with and without high-grade fasciculation (p < 0.001) after exclusion of muscles with 0-1 the medical research council (MRC) levels of strength at the baseline.

Conclusion: The severity of fasciculations was correlated with the rate of decrease in ALSFRS-R score and the decline in muscle strength, which might be used as a biological marker to predict the progression rate of ALS for prognostic judgment or clinical trial grouping.

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肢体肌束化可作为ALS进展的预测指标：一项超声研究。

目的：探讨超声对肌萎缩侧索硬化症（ALS）进展的预测作用。方法：连续招募散发性肌萎缩侧索硬化症患者，随访3 ~ 6个月。基线行肌肉超声检查，检测每位患者双侧肘关节屈伸肌、踝关节背屈肌、足底屈肌的束束严重程度评分，其总和定义为束束总评分。收集基线和随访ALS功能研究量表（ALSFRS-R）评分和肌力。ALS的进展可以通过ALSFRS-R评分的下降率和肌肉力量下降的比例来反映。结果：33例完成随访的ALS患者中，总束化评分与ALSFRS-R进展率呈正相关（rho = 0.029, p）。结论：束化严重程度与ALSFRS-R评分下降率及肌力下降率相关，可作为预测ALS进展率的生物学指标，用于预后判断或临床试验分组。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Neurological Sciences 医学-临床神经学

CiteScore

6.10

自引率

3.00%

发文量

743

审稿时长

4 months

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.