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Winter N, Vittore D, Gess B, Schulz JB, Grimm A, Dohrn MF. New Keys to Early Diagnosis: Muscle Echogenicity, Nerve Ultrasound Patterns, Electrodiagnostic, and Clinical Parameters in 150 Patients with Hereditary Polyneuropathies. Neurotherapeutics 2021; 18:2425-2435. [PMID: 34708324 PMCID: PMC8804010 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-021-01141-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Hereditary neuropathies are of variable genotype and phenotype. With upcoming therapies, there is urgent need for early disease recognition and outcome measures. High-resolution nerve and muscle ultrasound is a dynamic, non-invasive, well-established tool in the field of inflammatory and traumatic neuropathies. In this study, we defined nerve and muscle ultrasound parameters as recognition and progression markers in 150 patients with genetically confirmed hereditary neuropathies, including Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease (CMT1A, n = 55; other CMT1/4, n = 28; axonal CMT, n = 15; CMTX, n = 15), hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP, n = 16), hereditary transthyretin-amyloidosis (ATTRv, n = 14), and Fabry's disease (n = 7). The CMT1A, followed by the CMT1/4 group, had the most homogeneous enlargement of the nerve cross-sectional areas (CSA) in the ultrasound pattern sum (UPSS) and homogeneity score. Entrapment scores were highest in HNPP, ATTRv amyloidosis, and Fabry's disease patients. In demyelinating neuropathies, the CSA correlated inversely with nerve conduction studies. The muscle echo intensity was significantly highest in the clinically most affected muscles, which was independent from the underlying disease cause and correlated with muscle strength and disease duration. Further correlations were seen with combined clinical (CMTES-2) and electrophysiological (CMTNS-2) scores of disease severity. We conclude that nerve ultrasound is a helpful tool to distinguish different types of hereditary neuropathies by pattern recognition, whereas muscle ultrasound is an objective parameter for disease severity. The implementation of neuromuscular ultrasound might enrich diagnostic procedures both in clinical routines and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Winter
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Debora Vittore
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Burkhard Gess
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jörg B Schulz
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Jülich Aachen Research Alliance (JARA), FZ Jülich and RWTH University, Jülich, Germany
| | - Alexander Grimm
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
| | - Maike F Dohrn
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Human Genetics and John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
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Roeben B, Just J, Hengel H, Bender F, Pöschl P, Synofzik M, Schöls L, Grimm A. Multifocal, hypoechogenic nerve thickening in Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis. Clin Neurophysiol 2020; 131:1798-1803. [PMID: 32531740 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2020.04.162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterize peripheral nerve morphology in cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) patients using high-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) in vivo. We hypothesized that nerve enlargements might be present in CTX as a result of accumulation of abnormal lipids with deposition also in peripheral nerves. METHODS Four CTX patients were examined using HRUS to assess morphological abnormalities of peripheral nerves as well as cervical nerve roots 5 and 6. RESULTS HRUS revealed mild to moderate, hypoechogenic thickening of sensorimotor nerves (ulnar nerve in 1/4, tibial nerve in 3/4, median nerve 4/4 patients) as well as mild enlargement of pure sensory nerves (sural nerve in 2/3, superficial FN in 2/4 patients). The vagal nerve was moderately enlarged in one patient, cervical roots showed moderate enlargements of C5 in two patients, one of which also showing thickening of C6 as well as in another patient. UPSS score was slightly to moderately abnormal in all patients. The Homogeneity score was not increased suggesting regional to inhomogeneous nerve enlargement. CONCLUSIONS HRUS shows multifocal, hypoechogenic nerve thickening of peripheral nerves and nerve roots in CTX. SIGNIFICANCE HRUS might serve as a valuable, additive and non-invasive bedside tool to assess peripheral nerve morphology in future clinical studies on CTX patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Roeben
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Just
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Holger Hengel
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Friedemann Bender
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter Pöschl
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Barmherzige Brüder, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Matthis Synofzik
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ludger Schöls
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Alexander Grimm
- Center of Neurology and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Rattay TW, Just J, Röben B, Hengel H, Schüle R, Synofzik M, Söhn AS, Winter N, Dammeier N, Schöls L, Grimm A. Nerve ultrasound characterizes AMN polyneuropathy as inhomogeneous and focal hypertrophic. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2018; 13:194. [PMID: 30390710 PMCID: PMC6215661 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-018-0939-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective High-resolution nerve ultrasound (HRUS) is a painless tool to quickly evaluate peripheral nerve morphology in vivo. This study set out to characterize peripheral nerve involvement in X-linked adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) by HRUS. Methods Thirteen adults with genetically proven AMN were examined using the Ultrasound pattern sum score (UPSS) to evaluate morphological abnormalities of peripheral nerves, vagal nerves, as well as cervical nerve roots. Ultrasound results were correlated with clinical findings and nerve conduction studies. Results UPSS was increased in six out of 13 patients. Nerve enlargement was mostly inhomogeneous and regional. The median, ulnar, and vagal nerves presented with more prominent alterations than nerves of the lower limbs. The proximal-to-distal ratio was significantly enlarged for the median nerve. HRUS findings matched nerve conduction studies, but identified one patient with enlarged nerves and yet normal conduction velocities. Sonographic findings did not correlate with disease duration or disease severity as assessed by the spastic paraplegia rating scale. Conclusion HRUS reveals significant multifocal regional nerve swellings with reduced echo intensity as the morphological equivalent of electrophysiological peripheral nerve affection in AMN patients. Ultrasound and NCS characteristics in AMN seem to differ from other demyelinating neuropathies like CIDP or CMT1a. Trial registration German clinical-trial-register (DRKS) (DRKS-ID 00005253) Registered 15 October 2013. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13023-018-0939-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim W Rattay
- Center for Neurology, and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Just
- Center for Neurology, and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Benjamin Röben
- Center for Neurology, and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Holger Hengel
- Center for Neurology, and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Rebecca Schüle
- Center for Neurology, and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Matthis Synofzik
- Center for Neurology, and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Anne S Söhn
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Natalie Winter
- Center for Neurology, and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nele Dammeier
- Center for Neurology, and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ludger Schöls
- Center for Neurology, and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany. .,German Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Alexander Grimm
- Center for Neurology, and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
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Grimm A, Rattay TW, Winter N, Axer H. Peripheral nerve ultrasound scoring systems: benchmarking and comparative analysis. J Neurol 2016; 264:243-253. [PMID: 27878436 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-016-8305-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasound of the nerves is an additive diagnostic tool to evaluate polyneuropathy. Recently, the need for standardized scoring systems has widely been discussed; different scores are described so far. Therefore, 327 patients with polyneuropathy were analyzed by ultrasound in our laboratory. Consequently, several ultrasound scoring tools were applied, i.e., the nerve pattern classification according to Padua et al. in all patients with CIDP and variants, the Bochum ultrasound score (BUS) and the neuritis ultrasound protocol in immune-mediated neuritis, the ultrasound pattern sum score, the homogeneity score, and the nerve enlargement distribution score in all neuropathies if possible. For all scores good accuracy was found. Most patients with CIDP revealed hypoechoic enlarged nerves (Class 1), the BUS/NUP was useful to identify GBS (sensitivity >85%), MMN (100%) and CIDP (>70%), while the UPSS showed high sensitivity and positive/negative predictive values (N/PPV) in the diagnosis of GBS (>70%), CIDP (>85%) and axonal non-inflammatory neuropathies (>90%). Homogeneous nerves were found in most CMT1 patients (66.7%), while immune-mediated neuropathies mostly show regional nerve enlargement. The HS was suitable to identify CMT patients with an HS ≥5 points. All scores were easily applicable with high accuracy. The former-reported results could be similarly confirmed. However, all sores have some incompleteness concerning unselected polyneuropathy population, particularly rare and focal types. Scoring systems are useful and easily applicable. They show high accuracy in certain neuropathies, but also offer some gaps and can, therefore, only be used in addition to standard diagnostic routines such as electrophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Grimm
- Center for Neurology, Tübingen University Hospital and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research Eberhard-Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Tim W Rattay
- Center for Neurology, Tübingen University Hospital and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research Eberhard-Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Natalie Winter
- Center for Neurology, Tübingen University Hospital and Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research Eberhard-Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hubertus Axer
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
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Grimm A, Vittore D, Schubert V, Rasenack M, Décard BF, Heiling B, Hammer N, Axer H. Ultrasound aspects in therapy-naive CIDP compared to long-term treated CIDP. J Neurol 2016; 263:1074-82. [PMID: 27017343 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-016-8100-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Revised: 03/13/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
To investigate the use of nerve ultrasound (NUS) along with the European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS) guidelines and clinical scores in untreated, recently diagnosed chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) vs. long-lasting treated CIDP. NUS and nerve conduction studies (NCS) of predefined nerves/cervical roots were performed in CIDP on diagnostic onset and "chronic-CIDP" (diagnosis and therapy >6 months), compared to controls. Nerve morphology was quantified using the modified ultrasound pattern sum score mUPSS, which is the sum of 3 ultrasound scores derived at 12 predefined measurement points and the homogeneity score (HS) in ulnar, median, and tibial nerve. 21 onset-CIDP, 21 "chronic-CIDP", and 21 age-matched controls were included. No differences in clinical scores or in the number of electrophysiologically affected nerves existed between the groups. Significantly enlarged cross-sectional areas of the nerves and diameters of the roots ensued already in onset-CIDP; however, with proximal predominance, whilst in chronic-CIDP, nerve enlargement was more prominent and ubiquitous. Increased UPS scores were shown in both patient groups compared to the controls. Significant differences between the patient groups were found particularly in the peripheral nerve score UPSA. Evaluation by means of HS revealed that the nerves in onset-CIDP were mostly regionally enlarged (often sparing distal segments) whereas in chronic-CIDP, nerves were more generalized enlarged. Onset- and chronic-CIDP show enlarged nerves and therefore increased mUPSS, however, nerve enlargement shows a more generalized pattern in chronic-CIDP compared to disease onset and correlates with disease duration and delayed therapy start, but not with disability.
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Grimm A, Rasenack M, Athanasopoulou IM, Dammeier NM, Lipski C, Wolking S, Vittore D, Décard BF, Axer H. The modified ultrasound pattern sum score mUPSS as additional diagnostic tool for genetically distinct hereditary neuropathies. J Neurol 2016; 263:221-30. [PMID: 26559821 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-015-7953-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2015] [Revised: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study is to evaluate the nerve ultrasound characteristics in genetically distinct inherited neuropathies, the value of the modified ultrasound pattern sum score (mUPSS) to differentiate between the subtypes and the correlation of ultrasound with nerve conduction studies (NCS), disease duration and severity. All patients underwent a standardized neurological examination, ultrasound, and NCS. In addition, genetic testing was performed. Consequently, mUPSS was applied, which is a sum-score of cross-sectional areas (CSA) at predefined anatomical points in different nerves. 31 patients were included (10xCharcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT)1a, 3xCMT1b, 3xCMTX, 9xCMT2, 6xHNPP [Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies]). Generalized, homogeneous nerve enlargement and significantly increased UPS scores emphasized the diagnosis of demyelinating neuropathy, particularly CMT1a and CMT1b. The amount of enlargement did not depend on disease duration, symptom severity, height and weight. In CMTX the nerves were enlarged, as well, however, only in the roots and lower limbs, most prominent in men. In CMT2 no significant enlargement was detectable. In HNPP the CSA values were increased at entrapped sites, and not elsewhere. However, a distinction from CMT1, which also showed enlarged CSA values at entrapment sites, was only possible by calculating the entrapment ratios and entrapment score. The mUPSS allowed distinction between CMT1a (increased UPS scores, entrapment ratios <1.0) and HNPP (low UPS scores, entrapment ratios >1.4), while CMT1b and CMTX showed intermediate UPS types and entrapment ratios <1.0. Although based on few cases, ultrasound revealed consistent and homogeneous nerve alteration in certain inherited neuropathies. The modified UPSS is a quantitative tool, which may provide useful information for diagnosis, differentiation and follow-up evaluation in addition to NCS and molecular testing.
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