Cortical Excitability Changes over Time in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Overview

Journal Funct Neurol

Specialties Neurology
Psychology

Date 2016 Jan 5

PMID 26727704

Citations 16

Authors

Samar S Ayache

Alain Creange

Wassim H Farhat

Hela G Zouari

Catherine Lesage

Ulrich Palm

Mohammed Abdellaoui

Jean-Pascal Lefaucheur

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In 25 patients with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), motor cortex excitability was longitudinally studied over one year by means of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The following TMS parameters were considered: resting and active motor thresholds (MTs), input-output curve, short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), and intracortical facilitation. Clinical evaluation was based on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). In the 16 patients not receiving disease-modifying drugs, the EDSS score worsened, resting MT increased, and SICI decreased. By contrast, no clinical for neurophysiological changes were found over time in the nine patients receiving immunomodulatory therapy. The natural course of progressive MS appears to be associated with a decline in cortical excitability of both pyramidal neurons and inhibitory circuits. This pilot study based on a small sample suggests that disease-modifying drugs may allow cortical excitability to remain stable, even in patients with progressive MS.

Citing Articles

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Lowered ratio of corticospinal excitation to inhibition predicts greater disability, poorer motor and cognitive function in multiple sclerosis.

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