Quantification of central motor conduction deficits in multiple sclerosis patients before and after treatment of acute exacerbation by methylprednisolone.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry
; 77(3): 345-50, 2006 Mar.
Article
de En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-16174651
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To compare the effects of intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) in patients with relapsing-remitting (RR-MS), secondary progressive (SP-MS), and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PP-MS).METHODS:
Clinical and neurophysiological follow up was undertaken in 24 RR-MS, eight SP-MS, and nine PP-MS patients receiving Solu-Medrol 500 mg/d over five days for exacerbations involving the motor system. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were used to measure central motor conduction time (CMCT) and the triple stimulation technique (TST) was applied to assess conduction deficits. The TST allows accurate quantification of the number of conducting central motor neurones, expressed by the TST amplitude ratio.RESULTS:
There was a significant increase in TST amplitude ratio in RR-MS (p<0.001) and SP-MS patients (p<0.02) at day 5, paralleling an increase in muscle force. TST amplitude ratio and muscle force remained stable at two months. In PP-MS, TST amplitude ratio and muscle force did not change. CMCT did not change significantly in any of the three groups.CONCLUSIONS:
In RR-MS and SP-MS, IVMP is followed by a prompt increase in conducting central motor neurones paralleled by improvement in muscle force, which most probably reflects partial resolution of central conduction block. The lack of similar clinical and neurophysiological changes in PP-MS corroborates previous clinical reports on limited IVMP efficacy in this patient group and points to pathophysiological differences underlying exacerbations in PP-MS.
Texte intégral:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Base de données:
MEDLINE
Sujet principal:
Méthylprednisolone
/
Maladies du motoneurone
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Sclérose en plaques chronique progressive
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Sclérose en plaques récurrente-rémittente
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Conduction nerveuse
Type d'étude:
Diagnostic_studies
Limites:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
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Male
/
Middle aged
Langue:
En
Journal:
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry
Année:
2006
Type de document:
Article
Pays d'affiliation:
Suisse