Rate-dependent Depression is Impaired in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Overview

Journal Neurol Sci

Specialty Neurology

Date 2021 Sep 14

PMID 34518934

Citations 2

Authors

Xiajun Zhou

Ze Wang

Zhi Lin

Ying Zhu

Desheng Zhu

Chong Xie

Nigel A Calcutt

Yangtai Guan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: We investigated rate-dependent depression (RDD) of the Hoffman reflex (H-reflex) in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative disease with ventral horn involvement.

Patients And Methods: In this case-control study, we enrolled 27 patients with ALS and 30 matched healthy control subjects. Clinical and electrophysiological assessments, as well as RDD in response to various stimulation frequencies (0.5 Hz, 1 Hz, 3 Hz and 5 Hz), were compared between groups. Multiple clinical and electrophysiological factors were also explored to determine any underlying associations with RDD.

Results: The ALS group showed a significant loss of RDD across all frequencies compared to the control group, most notably following 1 Hz stimulation (19.1 ± 20.3 vs. 34.0 ± 13.7%, p = 0.003). Among factors that might influence RDD, the enlargement of the motor unit potential (MUP) showed a significant relationship with RDD following multifactor analysis of variance (p = 0.007) and Pearson correlation analysis (ρ = - 0.70, p < 0.001), while various upper motor neuron manifestations were not correlated with RDD values (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: We report a loss of RDD in patients with ALS. The strong correlation detected between the RDD deficit and increased MUP suggests that RDD is a sensitive indicator of underlying spinal disinhibition in ALS.

Trial Registration: ChiCTR2000038848, 10/7/2020 (retrospectively registered), http://www.chictr.org.cn/ .

Citing Articles

Rate-Dependent Depression of the Hoffmann Reflex: Practical Applications in Painful Diabetic Neuropathy.

Han L, Calcutt N, Zhou X Diabetes Metab J. 2024; 48(6):1029-1046.

PMID: 39610132 PMC: 11621664. DOI: 10.4093/dmj.2024.0614.

Synaptic imbalance and increased inhibition impair motor function in SMA.

Fletcher E, Chalif J, Rotterman T, Pagiazitis J, Van Alstyne M, Sivakumar N bioRxiv. 2024; .

PMID: 39257773 PMC: 11383993. DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.30.610545.

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