Browsing by Subject "Fasciculations"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Open Access
    New insights into the pathophysiology of fasciculations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: an ultrasound study
    (Elsevier, 2018) Vázquez Costa, J. F.; Campins Romeu, M.; Martínez Payá, Jacinto Javier; Tembl, J. I.; Baño Aledo, María Elena del; Ríos Díaz, J.; Fornés Ferrer, V.; Chumillas, M. J.; Sevilla, T.; Fisioterapia
    Objective: To describe the fasciculation pattern in ALS and to analyse its clinical and pathophysiological significance. Methods: Ultrasound of 19 muscles was performed in 44 patients with a recent diagnosis (<90 days) of ALS. The numberof fasciculationswas recorded in each muscle and the muscle thickness and strengthwere additionally measured in limb muscles. A subgroup of patients were electromyographically assessed. Results: US was performed in 835 muscles and EMG was available in 263 muscles. US detected fasciculations more frequently than EMG. Fasciculations were widespread, especially in upper limbs onset patients and in the cervical region. Fasciculations’ number inversely associated with ALSFR-R and body mass index (BMI) and directly with BMI loss and upper motor neuron (UMN) impairment. Our statistical model suggest that fasciculations increasewith the initial lower motor neuron (LMN) degeneration, reach their peak when the muscle became mildly to moderately weak, decreasing afterwards with increasing muscle weakness and atrophy.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Open Access
    Sonoelastography for the Assessment of Muscle Changes in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Results of a Pilot Study
    (Elsevier, 2018) Martínez Payá, Jacinto Javier; Baño Aledo, María Elena del; Ríos Díaz, José; Fornés Ferrer, Victoria; Vázquez Costa, Juan F.; Fisioterapia
    The purpose of this study was to assess the sonoelastographic features of four different muscles in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis compared with healthy controls and to evaluate the relationship of these features to muscle strength and other ultrasonographic variables. Fourteen patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and 20 controls were examined using strain sonoelastography scanning. The RGB channel fraction ratio was analyzed with ImageJ software (Version 1.48). Two main sonoelastographic patterns could be distinguished in the controls: a clear predominance of the blue channel (hard areas) and a more heterogeneous pattern with predominance of the green channel (intermediate stiffness). These patterns were also observed in patients, although a higher green channel score was observed in mildly impaired muscles, whereas a higher blue channel score was observed in the most severely impaired muscle. Sonoelastography may be a good complementary biomarker in the detection and monitoring of muscle changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.