Franziska Stein1, Ines Kobor1, Ulrich Bogdahn1, Wilhelm J Schulte-Mattler2. 1. Department of Neurology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. 2. Department of Neurology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. Electronic address: wilhelm.schulte-mattler@klinik.uni-regensburg.de.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: This prospectively designed study analyzed the correlation of a new, non-invasive neurophysiological method (Motor Unit Number Index - MUNIX) with two established Motor Unit Number Estimation (MUNE) methods. METHODS: MUNIX and incremental stimulation MUNE (IS-MUNE) were done in the abductor digiti minimi muscle (ADM), while MUNIX and spike-triggered averaging MUNE (STA-MUNE) were tested in the trapezius muscle. Twenty healthy subjects and 17 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) were examined. RESULTS: MUNIX and MUNE values correlated significantly (ADM: n=108; Spearman-Rho; r=0.88; p<0.01; trapezius muscle: n=49; Spearman-Rho; r=0.46; p<0.01). DISCUSSION: MUNIX indeed reflects the number of motor units in a muscle, and may sensibly be recorded from the trapezius muscle. With MUNIX being both much more patient friendly and much more rapid to assess than MUNE, the results support the use of MUNIX when motor unit number assessment is desired.
INTRODUCTION: This prospectively designed study analyzed the correlation of a new, non-invasive neurophysiological method (Motor Unit Number Index - MUNIX) with two established Motor Unit Number Estimation (MUNE) methods. METHODS:MUNIX and incremental stimulation MUNE (IS-MUNE) were done in the abductor digiti minimi muscle (ADM), while MUNIX and spike-triggered averaging MUNE (STA-MUNE) were tested in the trapezius muscle. Twenty healthy subjects and 17 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) were examined. RESULTS:MUNIX and MUNE values correlated significantly (ADM: n=108; Spearman-Rho; r=0.88; p<0.01; trapezius muscle: n=49; Spearman-Rho; r=0.46; p<0.01). DISCUSSION: MUNIX indeed reflects the number of motor units in a muscle, and may sensibly be recorded from the trapezius muscle. With MUNIX being both much more patient friendly and much more rapid to assess than MUNE, the results support the use of MUNIX when motor unit number assessment is desired.
Keywords:
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Incremental stimulation motor unit number estimation; Motor unit number estimation; Motor unit number index; Spike-triggered averaging motor unit number estimation
Authors: Anna M Wirth; Andrei Khomenko; Dobri Baldaranov; Ines Kobor; Ohnmar Hsam; Thomas Grimm; Siw Johannesen; Tim-Henrik Bruun; Wilhelm Schulte-Mattler; Mark W Greenlee; Ulrich Bogdahn Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2018-07-30 Impact factor: 4.003