Key result
Patients with post-polio syndrome had significantly higher muscle echo intensity (60.5 vs 33.3) and lower muscle thickness (2.60 cm vs 3.19 cm) than healthy controls, both of which independently correlated with muscle strength.
Why the study?
Can quantitative muscle ultrasound distinguish muscles affected by post-polio syndrome from healthy muscles, and is ultrasound severity associated with muscle strength?
Cross-Sectional (n=60)
No
Can quantitative muscle ultrasound distinguish muscles affected by post-polio syndrome from healthy muscles, and is ultrasound severity associated with muscle strength?
Absolute Event Rate: 60.5% vs 33.3%
p-value: p=<0.001
Quantitative muscle ultrasound can distinguish healthy muscles from those affected by post-polio syndrome and correlates with muscle strength, suggesting utility for assessing disease severity.
May support quantitative ultrasound for noninvasive post-polio severity assessment; leaves open prospective validation before clinical adoption.
INTRODUCTION: We investigated whether muscle ultrasound can distinguish muscles affected by post-polio syndrome (PPS) from healthy muscles and whether severity of ultrasound abnormalities is associated with muscle strength. METHODS: Echo intensity, muscle thickness, and isometric strength of the quadriceps muscles were measured in 48 patients with PPS and 12 healthy controls. RESULTS: Patients with PPS had significantly higher echo intensity and lower muscle thickness than healthy controls. In patients, both echo intensity and muscle thickness were associated independently with muscle strength. A combined measure of echo intensity and muscle thickness was more strongly related to muscle strength than either parameter alone. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative ultrasound distinguishes healthy muscles from those affected by PPS, and measures of muscle quality and quantity are associated with muscle strength. Hence, ultrasound could be a useful tool for assessing disease severity and monitoring changes resulting from disease progression or clinical intervention in patients with PPS.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Bickerstaffe et al. (2014) conducted a cross-sectional in Post-polio syndrome (n=60). Post-polio syndrome vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on Echo intensity (EI) of the vastus lateralis muscle (p=<0.001). Patients with post-polio syndrome had significantly higher muscle echo intensity (60.5 vs 33.3) and lower muscle thickness (2.60 cm vs 3.19 cm) than healthy controls, both of which independently correlated with muscle strength.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: