Fasciculation analysis reveals a novel parameter that correlates with predicted survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Introduction
Prognostic uncertainty in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) confounds clinical management planning, patient counseling, and trial stratification. Fasciculations are an early clinical hallmark of disease and can be quantified noninvasively. Using an innovative analytical method, we correlated novel fasciculation parameters with a predictive survival model.
Methods
Using high-density surface electromyography, we collected biceps recordings from ALS patients on their first research visit. By accessing an online survival prediction tool, we provided eight clinical and genetic parameters to estimate individual patient survival. Fasciculation analysis was performed using an automated algorithm (Surface Potential Quantification Engine), with a Cox proportional hazards model to calculate hazard ratios.
Results
The median predicted survival for 31 patients was 41 (interquartile range, 31.5-57) months. Univariate hazard ratios were 1.09 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.16) for the rate of change of fasciculation frequency (RoCoFF) and 1.10 (95% CI, 1.01-1.19) for the amplitude dispersion rate. Only the RoCoFF remained significant (P = .04) in a multivariate model.
Discussion
Noninvasive measurement of fasciculations at a single time-point could enhance prognostic models in ALS, where higher RoCoFF values indicate shorter survival.
Prognostic uncertainty in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) confounds clinical management planning, patient counseling, and trial stratification. Fasciculations are an early clinical hallmark of disease and can be quantified noninvasively. Using an innovative analytical method, we correlated novel fasciculation parameters with a predictive survival model.
Methods
Using high-density surface electromyography, we collected biceps recordings from ALS patients on their first research visit. By accessing an online survival prediction tool, we provided eight clinical and genetic parameters to estimate individual patient survival. Fasciculation analysis was performed using an automated algorithm (Surface Potential Quantification Engine), with a Cox proportional hazards model to calculate hazard ratios.
Results
The median predicted survival for 31 patients was 41 (interquartile range, 31.5-57) months. Univariate hazard ratios were 1.09 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.16) for the rate of change of fasciculation frequency (RoCoFF) and 1.10 (95% CI, 1.01-1.19) for the amplitude dispersion rate. Only the RoCoFF remained significant (P = .04) in a multivariate model.
Discussion
Noninvasive measurement of fasciculations at a single time-point could enhance prognostic models in ALS, where higher RoCoFF values indicate shorter survival.
Date Issued
2020-12-29
Date Acceptance
2020-12-06
Citation
Muscle and Nerve, 2020, 63 (3), pp.392-396
ISSN
0148-639X
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
392
End Page
396
Journal / Book Title
Muscle and Nerve
Volume
63
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2020 The Authors. Muscle & Nerve published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000603316200001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
EP/K503381/1
EP/J021199/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Clinical Neurology
Neurosciences
Neurosciences & Neurology
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
biomarker
fasciculation
high‐
density surface EMG
survival
PROGNOSTIC BIOMARKER
ALS
PROGRESSION
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2020-12-08