The effects of intervention with intravenous edaravone in Study 19 on hospitalization, tracheostomy, ventilation, and death in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: Intravenous (IV) edaravone is a US Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), shown in clinical trials to slow physical functional decline. In this study we compared the effect of IV edaravone (edaravone-first group) versus placebo followed by IV edaravone (placebo-first group) on survival and additional milestone events. METHODS: This work is a post hoc analysis of Study 19/MCI186-19, which was a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study investigating IV edaravone versus placebo. Study 19 and its 24-week extension have been described previously (NCT01492686). Edaravone-first versus placebo-first group time to events for specific milestone(s) were analyzed post hoc. Time-to-event composite endpoints were time to death; time to death, tracheostomy, or permanent assisted ventilation (PAV); and time to death, tracheostomy, PAV, or hospitalization. RESULTS: The risk for death, tracheostomy, PAV, or hospitalization was 53% lower among patients in the edaravone-first vs placebo-first groups (hazard ratio = 0.47 [95% confidence interval 0.25 to 0.88], P = .02). The overall effect of IV edaravone on ALS progression could be seen in the significant separation of time-to-event curves for time to death, tracheostomy, PAV, or hospitalization. ALS survival composite endpoint analyses (ALS/SURV) suggested a treatment benefit (least-squares mean difference) for the edaravone-first versus the placebo-first group at week 24 (0.15 ± 0.05 [95% confidence interval 0.06 to 0.25], P < .01) and week 48 (0.11 ± 0.05 [95% confidence interval 0.02 to 0.21], P = .02). DISCUSSION: These analyses illustrate the value of timely and continued IV edaravone treatment, as earlier initiation was associated with a lower risk of death, tracheostomy, PAV, or hospitalization in patients with ALS.

Slowing the loss of physical function in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with edaravone: Post hoc analysis of ALSFRS-R item scores in pivotal study MCI186-19.

INTRODUCTION: Phase 3 study MCI186-19 demonstrated less loss of physical function with edaravone versus placebo, as measured by the revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) total score. A 1-point drop in an individual ALSFRS-R item may be clinically meaningful. We assessed ALSFRS-R item score changes to identify clinical features protected by edaravone treatment. METHODS: Time-to-event analysis was used to assess the cumulative probabilities of reductions in ALSFRS-R item scores and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Assessment Questionnaire (ALSAQ-40) subdomain scores. RESULTS: Edaravone use was accompanied by: (1) delayed drop of ≥1 point in ALSFRS-R item score for four items: salivation, walking, climbing stairs, orthopnea (unadjusted), or for two items: walking, climbing stairs (after Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons); (2) delayed score transition from 4 or 3 at baseline to ≤2 for five items: swallowing, eating motion, walking, climbing stairs, orthopnea (unadjusted), or for one item: climbing stairs (after Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons); and (3) delayed worsening of ALSAQ-40 domain scores representing daily living/independence, eating and drinking (unadjusted). DISCUSSION: These post-hoc analyses identified the ALSFRS-R item scores and ALSAQ-40 domain scores that were associated with preserved gross motor function and health-related quality of life, respectively, after edaravone treatment. Limitations of post-hoc analyses should be considered when interpreting these results. We recommend that clinical trials employing the ALSFRS-R include this type of analysis as a pre-specified secondary outcome measure.

Reproductive History and Age of Onset for Women Diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Data from the National ALS Registry: 2010-2018.

BACKGROUND: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurological disease of largely unknown etiology with no cure. The National ALS Registry is a voluntary online system that collects demographic and reproductive history (females only) data from patients with ALS. We will examine the association between demographic and reproductive history among female patients aged >18 years and various ages of onset for ALS. METHODS: Data from a cross-sectional study were collected and examined for 1,018 female ALS patients. Patient characteristics examined were demographics including race, BMI, and familial history of ALS. Among patients, information on reproductive history, including age at menopause, ever pregnant, and age at first pregnancy was collected. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models were used to estimate OR and 95% CI in this study. RESULTS: Women were more likely to be diagnosed with ALS before age 60 if they were nonwhite (p = 0.015), had attended college (p = 0.0012), had a normal BMI at age 40 (p < 0.0001), completed menopause before age 50 (p < 0.0001), and had never been pregnant (p = 0.046) in the univariate analysis. Women diagnosed with ALS before age 60 were also more likely to have limb site of onset (p < 0.0001). In the multivariate analysis, those who completed menopause before age 50 were more likely to be diagnosed with ALS before age 60 (OR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.4-2.3) compared with women who completed menopause at or after age 50, after controlling for race, ever pregnant, age at first pregnancy, family history of ALS, education status, smoking history, and BMI at age 40. For women who were diagnosed with ALS before age 50, the odds of them entering menopause before age 50 climb to 48.7 (95% CI: 11.8, 200.9). The mean age of ALS diagnosis for women who completed menopause before age 50 was 58 years and 64 years for women who entered menopause after age 50 (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Women who reported completing menopause before age 50 were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with ALS before age 60 compared with those who reported entering menopause after age 50. More research is needed to determine the relationship between female reproductive history, especially regarding endogenous estrogen exposure and early-onset ALS.

The Incidence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Ohio 2016-2018: The Ohio Population-Based ALS Registry.

INTRODUCTION: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, neuromuscular disease with no cure. ALS incidence rates have not been assessed specifically in Ohio, yet the state contains both metropolitan and rural areas with a variety of environmental factors that could contribute to disease etiology. We report the incidence of ALS in Ohio residents diagnosed from October 2016 through September 2018. METHODS: We engaged practitioners from 9 Ohio sites to identify newly diagnosed ALS patients and to complete case report forms with demographic and clinical information. ALS was diagnosed according to the Awaji criteria and classified as either definite, probable, or possible. We developed a method to estimate missing cases using a Poisson regression model to impute cases in counties with evidence of undercounting. RESULTS: We identified 333 newly diagnosed ALS patients residing in Ohio during the 2-year index period and found incidence rates varied in the 88 state counties. After incorporating the estimated 27% of missing cases, the corrected crude annual incidence was 1.96/100,000 person-years, and the age- and gender-standardized incidence was 1.71/100,000 person-years (standardized to the 2010 US census). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: The estimated Ohio incidence of ALS is overall similar to that reported in other states in the USA. This study reveals a geospatial variation in incidence within the state, and areas with higher rates warrant future investigation.

Risk factors for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A regional United States case-control study.

Most amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases are considered sporadic, without a known genetic basis, and environmental exposures are thought to play a causal role. To learn more about sporadic ALS etiology, we recruited n = 188 ALS patients from northern New England and Ohio and matched controls 2:1 from the general population of the same regions. Questionnaires evaluated the association between a variety of lifestyle, behavioral (ie, hobbies and activities), and occupational factors and the risk of ALS, including the duration of time between exposure and ALS onset, and exposure frequency. Head trauma was associated with increased ALS risk (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.60 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-2.45), with significantly greater effects for injuries occurring 10 or more years prior to symptom onset (P = .037). ALS risk was increased for those reporting severe electrical burns (adjusted OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.37-6.03), with odds ratios highest for burns after age 30 (OR 3.14), and for burns 10 or more years prior to symptom onset (OR 3.09). Hobbies involving lead were the most strongly associated with ALS risk (adjusted OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.45-5.91). Exposures to lead 20 or more years prior to diagnosis had larger effect sizes compared to those occurring more recently. Holding a job in mechanics, painting, or construction was associated with ALS. The identification of these specific environmental factors associated with ALS highlight the need for future prospective and laboratory studies to assess causality, biological mechanisms, and find prevention or treatment opportunities.

Long-term edaravone efficacy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Post-hoc analyses of Study 19 (MCI186-19).

BACKGROUND: In a Phase 3 study, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients experienced significantly less physical functional decline with 24-week edaravone vs placebo, followed by open-label treatment for an additional 24 weeks. METHODS: Outcome (the change in ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised, ALSFRS-R, from baseline) was projected for placebo patients through 48 weeks and compared with 48-week edaravone or 24-week edaravone after switching from placebo. RESULTS: A total of 123 patients received open-label treatment (65 edaravone-edaravone; 58 placebo-edaravone). The projected ALSFRS-R decline for placebo from baseline through week 48 was greater than for 48-week edaravone (P < .0001). For patients switching from placebo to edaravone, ALSFRS-R slope approached that of continued edaravone for 48 weeks. ALSFRS-R decline did not differ between actual and projected edaravone through week 48. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with placebo, these analyses suggest that edaravone is beneficial in ALS patients even after 6 mo of receiving placebo, and efficacy is maintained for up to 1 year.

Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) functional rating scale: PLS-specific clinimetric scale.

INTRODUCTION: Our research aim was to develop a novel clinimetric scale sensitive enough to detect disease progression in primary lateral sclerosis (PLS). METHODS: A prototype of the PLS Functional Rating Scale (PLSFRS) was generated. Seventy-seven participants with PLS were enrolled and evaluated at 21 sites that comprised the PLSFRS study group. Participants were assessed using the PLSFRS, Neuro-Quality of Life (QoL), Schwab-England Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and the Clinical Global Impression of Change scales. Participants completed telephone assessments at 12, 24, and 48 weeks after enrollment. RESULTS: The PLSFRS demonstrated internal consistency as well as intrarater, interrater, telephone test-retest reliability, and construct validity. Significant changes in disease progression were detected at 6 and 12 months; changes measured by the PLSFRS vs the ALSFRS-R were significantly higher. DISCUSSION: The PLSFRS is a valid tool to assess the natural history of PLS in a shorter study period.

A Cost-Effectiveness Framework for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Applied to Riluzole.

OBJECTIVES: Reexamine cost-effectiveness of riluzole in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in light of recent advances in disease staging and understanding of stage-specific drug effect. METHODS: ALS was staged according to the "fine'til 9" (FT9) staging method. Stage-specific health utilities (EQ-5D, US valuation) were estimated from an institutional cohort, whereas literature informed costs and transition probabilities. Costs at 2018 prices were disaggregated into recurring costs (RCs) and "one-off" transition/"tollgate" costs (TCs). Five- and 10-year horizons starting in stage 1 disease were examined from healthcare sector and societal perspectives using Markov models to evaluate riluzole use, at a threshold of $100 000/quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Probabilistic and deterministic sensitivity analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Mean EQ-5D utilities for stages 0 to 4 were 0.79, 0.74, 0.63, 0.54, and 0.46, respectively. From the healthcare sector perspective at the 5-year horizon, riluzole use contributed to 0.182 QALY gained at the cost difference of $12 348 ($5403 riluzole cost, $8870 RC and -$1925 TC differences), translating to an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $67 658/QALY. Transition probability variation contributed considerably to ICER uncertainty (-30.2% to +90.0%). ICER was sensitive to drug price and RCs, whereas higher TCs modestly reduced ICER due to delayed tollgates. CONCLUSION: This study provides a framework for health economic studies of ALS treatments using FT9 staging. Prospective stage-specific and disaggregated cost measurement is warranted for accurate future cost-effectiveness analyses. Appropriate separation of TCs from RCs substantially mitigates the high burden of background cost of care on the ICER.

Provisional best practices guidelines for the evaluation of bulbar dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

INTRODUCTION: Universally established comprehensive clinical bulbar scales objectively assessing disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are currently lacking. The goal of this working group project is to design a best practice set of provisional bulbar ALS guidelines, available for immediate implementation within all ALS clinics. METHODS: ALS specialists across multiple related disciplines participated in a series of clinical bulbar symposia, intending to identify and summarize the currently accepted best practices for the assessment and management of bulbar dysfunction in ALS Results: Summary group recommendations for individual speech, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), and swallowing sections were achieved, focusing on the optimal proposed level of care within each domain. DISCUSSION: We have identified specific clinical recommendations for each of the 3 domains of bulbar functioning, available for incorporation within all ALS clinics. Future directions will be to establish a formal set of bulbar guidelines through a methodological and evidence-based approach. Muscle Nerve 59:531-531, 2019.

MR Imaging-based Estimation of Upper Motor Neuron Density in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Feasibility Study.

Purpose To determine if magnetic resonance (MR) imaging metrics can estimate primary motor cortex (PMC) motor neuron (MN) density in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Materials and Methods Between 2012 and 2014, in situ brain MR imaging was performed in 11 patients with ALS (age range, 35-81 years; seven women and four men) soon after death (mean, 5.5 hours after death; range, 3.2-9.6 hours). The brain was removed, right PMC (RPMC) was excised, and MN density was quantified. RPMC metrics (thickness, volume, and magnetization transfer ratio) were calculated from MR images. Regression modeling was used to estimate MN density by using RPMC and global MR imaging metrics (brain and tissue volumes); clinical variables were subsequently evaluated as additional estimators. Models were tested at in vivo MR imaging by using the same imaging protocol (six patients with ALS; age range, 54-66 years; three women and three men). Results RPMC mean MN density varied over a greater than threefold range across patients and was estimated by a linear function of normalized gray matter volume (adjusted R2 = 0.51; P = .008; <10% error in most patients). When considering only sporadic ALS, a linear function of normalized RPMC and white matter volumes estimated MN density (adjusted R2 = 0.98; P = .01; <10% error in all patients). In vivo data analyses detected decreases in MN density over time. Conclusion PMC mean MN density varies widely in end-stage ALS possibly because of disease heterogeneity. MN density can potentially be estimated by MR imaging metrics. © RSNA, 2018 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Distal Predominance of Electrodiagnostic Abnormalities in Early-Stage Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

INTRODUCTION: In this study we compared the electrodiagnostic (EDX) yield of limb muscles in revealing lower motor neuron (LMN) dysfunction by electromyography (EMG) in early-stage amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). METHODS: This investigation was undertaken as a retrospective review at a single center. RESULTS: Our study included 122 consecutive patients with possible ALS, as defined by revised El Escorial criteria. Distal limb muscles showed more frequent EMG abnormalities than proximal muscles. EDX yield was found to be higher in the limb where weakness began and when clinical signs of LMN dysfunction were evident. Adoption of the Awaji criteria significantly increased the yield of EMG-positive segments in the cervical (P < 0.0005) and lumbosacral (P < 0.0001) regions, and upgraded 19 patients into the probable category and 1 patient into the definite category. DISCUSSION: EMG abnormalities are predominant in the distal limb in early-stage ALS. A redefinition of an EDX-positive cervical or lumbosacral segment, with an emphasis on distal limb muscles, may result in an earlier ALS diagnosis. Muscle Nerve 58: 389-395, 2018.

Trajectories of impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Insights from the Pooled Resource Open-Access ALS Clinical Trials cohort.

INTRODUCTION: Rate of decline of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) score is a common outcome measure and a powerful predictor of mortality in ALS. METHODS: Observed rate of decline (postslope) of ALSFRS-R, its linearity, and its relationship to decline at first visit (preslope) were examined in the Pooled Resource Open-Access ALS Clinical Trials cohort by using longitudinal mixed effects models. RESULTS: Mean ALSFRS-R postslope in 3,367 patients was -0.99 points/month. Preslope and postslope were correlated and had powerful effects on survival. ALSFRS-R trajectories were slightly accelerated overall, but slope and direction/degree of curvature varied. Subscore decline was sequential by site of onset. Respiratory subscore decline was the least steep. DISCUSSION: Variable curvilinearity of ALSFRS-R trajectories confounds interpretation in clinical studies that assume linear decline. Subscore trajectories recapitulate phenotypic diversity and topographical progression of ALS. ALSFRS-R is better used as a multidimensional measure. Muscle Nerve 57: 937-945, 2018.

Additional evidence for a therapeutic effect of dextromethorphan/quinidine on bulbar motor function in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A quantitative speech analysis.

AIMS: A recent double-blind placebo-controlled crossover 70-day trial demonstrated that a fixed combination of dextromethorphan and quinidine (DM/Q) improves speech and swallowing function in most patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In this study, a subset of participants, many of whom did not substantially improve while on DM/Q, were re-evaluated using computer-based speech analyses and expert clinician ratings of the overall severity of speech impairment. METHODS: Speech samples were recorded from the subset of 10 patients at four visits made at approximately 30-day intervals. The recordings were analysed by automated computer-based analysis of speech pausing patterns. Severity of speech impairment was rated by three experienced speech-language pathologists using direct magnitude estimation. Scores on patient-reported and clinician-administered scales of bulbar motor involvement were obtained at each visit. RESULTS: The effects of DM/Q were detected on several of the objective speech measures, including total pause duration (s) (Cohen's d = 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.70, 0.24), pause time (%) (d = 0.77, 95% CI -1.75, 0.21), and mean speech event duration (s) (d = 0.52, 95% CI -0.44, 1.47), but not on clinician ratings of speech or the speech components of the self-report or clinician-administered scales. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that even patients with modest improvement while on DM/Q may experience quantifiable improvements in speech when assessed using sensitive and objective measures. This study provides additional evidence of the positive impact of DM/Q on one or more of the neural systems that control bulbar motor function and production of speech.

Laughter, crying and sadness in ALS.

BACKGROUND: Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is prevalent in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but there is limited information on its associations and course. OBJECTIVES: Explore prevalence, associations, course and manifestations of PBA in outpatient cohort of patients with ALS and examine its relationship to depression. METHODS: Self-reported measures of PBA and depression (Center for Neurologic Study-Lability Scale (CNS-LS) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), respectively) were obtained from consecutive patients with ALS using tablet devices in waiting rooms (Knowledge Program). RESULTS: PBA (CNS-LS ≥13) was seen in 209/735 patients (28.4%). PBA was associated with bulbar onset and dysfunction, upper motor neuron dysfunction, cognitive impairment, depression and lower quality of life. A multivariable model that included lower bulbar and gross motor subscores, female gender, younger age and shorter duration of disease predicted PBA with 74% accuracy. CNS-LS scores increased only slowly with time. Women with PBA reported more crying than men. Crying (but not laughter) correlated with depression, and crying was associated with poorer quality of life. Exploratory factor analysis of pooled questions of CNS-LS and PHQ-9 identified three underlying factors (laughter, crying and depression) loaded on appropriate questions of the respective instruments. CONCLUSION: This study identifies associations of PBA and additionally finds PBA (especially crying-predominant PBA) more prevalent in women with ALS. Although the two self-report instruments (CNS-LS and PHQ-9) discriminate well between PBA and depression, there is significant overlap between depression and crying in PBA. Studies of PBA should stratify for gender, examine crying and laughter as separate outcomes and adjust for depression.

Optimizing muscle selection for electromyography in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

INTRODUCTION: We compared the yield of limb and thoracic paraspinal muscle examination for revealing lower motor neuron (LMN) dysfunction on electromyography (EMG) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). METHODS: A retrospective review of 354 patients with clinically definite or probable ALS was performed. Seventeen limb muscles and thoracic paraspinal muscles were evaluated for the presence of both active and chronic denervation. RESULTS: Distal limb muscles showed the highest electrodiagnostic sensitivities of LMN dysfunction in ALS regardless of onset region and diagnostic certainty at the time of diagnosis. Electrodiagnostic yield is higher in muscles from the onset limb. Noncontiguous spread of lower motor neuron degeneration is present in ALS. Optimally selected 6 upper and 5 lower extremity muscles yielded >98% of potential positive cervical or lumbosacral segments. CONCLUSIONS: An algorithmic approach to needle EMG in ALS based on pretest probability of individual muscles optimizes electrodiagnostic yield, thus possibly minimizing test duration and patient discomfort. Muscle Nerve 56: 36-44, 2017.

Finger extension weakness and downbeat nystagmus motor neuron disease syndrome: A novel motor neuron disorder?

INTRODUCTION: Disturbances of eye movements are infrequently encountered in motor neuron diseases (MNDs) or motor neuropathies, and there is no known syndrome that combines progressive muscle weakness with downbeat nystagmus. METHODS: To describe the core clinical features of a syndrome of MND associated with downbeat nystagmus, clinical features were collected from 6 patients. RESULTS: All patients had slowly progressive muscle weakness and wasting in combination with downbeat nystagmus, which was clinically most obvious in downward and lateral gaze. Onset was in the second to fourth decade with finger extension weakness, progressing to other distal and sometimes more proximal muscles. Visual complaints were not always present. Electrodiagnostic testing showed signs of regional motor axonal loss in all patients. DISCUSSION: The etiology of this syndrome remains elusive. Because finger extension weakness and downbeat nystagmus are the discriminating clinical features of this MND, we propose the name FEWDON-MND syndrome. Muscle Nerve 56: 1164-1168, 2017.

Comparing brain structural MRI and metabolic FDG-PET changes in patients with ALS-FTD: 'the chicken or the egg?' question.

OBJECTIVE: Our previous voxel based morphometry (VBM) studies in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (ALS-FTD) showed reduced motor and extramotor grey matter (GM) volume when compared to neurological controls. However, erroneously high GM values can result because VBM analysis includes both cortical gyri and sulci as a single GM region. In addition, the relationship between structural and functional changes is unknown. Therefore, we determined whether GM volumetric changes seen in patients with ALS-FTD were due to changes in cortical thickness, area or both, and compared these structural changes with metabolic changes as revealed by positron emission tomography (PET). METHODS: T1-weighted MRIs were obtained in unaffected neurological controls and in patients with ALS-FTD; the latter also underwent PET imaging. We assessed brain GM structural changes using VBM and cortical thickness, and metabolic changes using PET images. Significant (p<0.05) reductions in GM volume and cortical thickness were observed in motor and extramotor regions in patients with ALS-FTD compared to controls. No significant difference in cortical surface area was observed in any of the brain regions. Results Significant (p<0.05) reductions in cerebral glucose metabolism rate were observed in brain regions where structural changes were also observed. Significant reductions primarily in cortical thickness were the likely reason for decreased GM volume in ALS-FTD. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic changes corresponded well with structural changes in motor and extramotor areas, and sometimes occurred even in the absence of GM volume reduction. Coincident structural and functional GM changes suggest that neurodegeneration may occur as "neuronopathy" in patients with ALS-FTD.

Disparate voxel based morphometry (VBM) results between SPM and FSL softwares in ALS patients with frontotemporal dementia: which VBM results to consider?

BACKGROUND: Because our previous study showed disparate voxel based morphometry (VBM) results between SPM and FSL softwares in the brain of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients with frontotemporal dementia (ALS-FTD), we investigated which VBM results may more represent atrophy by comparing with Freesurfer's cortical volume and thickness measures. METHODS: MRI at 1.5 T was obtained during routine clinical imaging of ALS-FTD patients (n = 18) and in unaffected neurologic controls (n = 15). Gray matter (GM) VBM analysis was carried out using FSL and SPM. Cortical thickness and volume analysis was performed using Freesurfer. RESULTS: GM volume was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in both motor and extra motor regions in ALS- FTD when compared to unaffected neurologic controls in FSL and Freesurfer but not in SPM. Dice similarity index for cortical GM volume changes between FSL and Freesurfer was 0.30 for motor and 0.31 for non-motor regions as opposed to 0 (motor) and 0.02 (non-motor) between SPM and Freesurfer. CONCLUSION: GM volume changes using FSL showed similar pattern with Freesurfer cortical volume and thickness changes in contrast to SPM results. Our results suggest that, at least for our dataset, VBM results obtained using FSL software should be considered as more representative of GM atrophy.

Do preprocessing algorithms and statistical models influence voxel-based morphometry (VBM) results in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients? A systematic comparison of popular VBM analytical methods.

PURPOSE: To study whether inconsistent findings in voxel-based morphometry (VBM) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) brain are due to use of different data preprocessing and statistical methods in two software packages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was obtained during routine clinical imaging at 1.5T in ALS patients with frontotemporal dementia (ALS-FTD) (n=18) and in unaffected neurologic controls (n=15). Gray matter (GM) VBM analysis was carried out using FMRIB software library (FSL) 4.1.5 and statistical parametric mapping 8 (SPM8). Comparison of processing steps segmentation, registration, and statistical methods (nonparametric vs. parametric) between the two softwares was performed by subjecting the same dataset through standard VBM processing pipelines. RESULTS: GM volume was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in motor and extramotor regions of ALS-FTD when compared to controls. Percentage of atrophied GM voxels in the entire brain that reached statistical significance using FSL was 22.52% compared to 0.81% in SPM. Similarly, 0.81% (3308 voxels) reached statistical significance using nonparametric statistics when compared to parametric statistics (0.50%, 2056 voxels). CONCLUSION: The differences in GM volume atrophy measures found by FSL and SPM analytic methods indicate that variable results in previous VBM studies may arise from differences in their image processing algorithms and statistical models.

Graph theory network analysis reveals widespread white matter damage in brains of patients with classic ALS.

Objective: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) exhibits several different presentations and clinical phenotypes. Of these, classic ALS (ALS-Cl), which is the most common phenotype, presents with relatively equal amounts of upper motor neuron and lower motor neuron signs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides a noninvasive way to assess central nervous system damage in these patients. To our knowledge no study is available where exploratory whole brain grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) network analysis is performed considering only the ALS-Cl subgroup of ALS patients. Methods: GM voxel-based morphometry analysis and WM network analysis using graph theory was performed in the MRI dataset of 14 neurologic controls and 25 ALS-Cl patients. Results and Conclusions: No significant GM differences were observed between ALS-Cl and neurologic controls. WM network revealed significant (p < 0.05) reduction and increase in degree measure in several extramotor brain regions of ALS-Cl patients. Both global and local graph metrics revealed significant abnormal values in ALS-Cl patients when compared to neurologic controls. Significant WM changes in ALS-Cl patients with no significant GM changes suggest that neurodegeneration may onset as an "axonopathy" in this ALS subtype.