Assessment of the upper limb muscles in patients with Fukuyama muscular dystrophy: Noninvasive assessment using visual ultrasound muscle analysis and shear wave elastography

Risa Harada, Mariko Taniguchi-Ikeda, Miwako Nagasaka, Tatsuya Nishii, Atsuyuki Inui, Tetsushi Yamamoto, Ichiro Morioka, Ryosuke Kuroda, Kazumoto Iijima, Kandai Nozu, Yoshitada Sakai, Tatsushi Toda

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Fukuyama-type congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD) is severe, childhood-onset muscular dystrophy. Recently, our group has discovered a potential treatment using antisense oligonucleotides. Therefore, an effective, reliable, and objective method of assessing muscle is needed. Ultrasound is a minimally invasive tool that can be applied without radiation exposure or pain. Evaluating tissue stiffness by shear wave elastography (SWE) has especially recently attracted attention. Here, we aimed to evaluate SWE value of the upper limb muscles: biceps brachii, triceps brachii, brachioradialis, abductor pollicis brevis, and abductor finger muscle in patients with FCMD. Upper extremity function was evaluated by visual muscle ultrasound analysis (VMUA) and SWE in 13 patients with FCMD and 20 healthy controls. The motor function evaluation tool was used to evaluate motor function, and the correlation with the dynamics of the SWE was determined. VMUA scaled using the Heckmatt scale was higher in patients with FCMD. SWE was also significantly higher and stiffer in the biceps brachii and brachioradialis in patients with FCMD. Furthermore, the severity of FCMD symptoms was correlated with muscle stiffness. We conclude that VMUA and SWE can be useful tools for monitoring muscle atrophy and upper limb function in patients with FCMD.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)754-762
Number of pages9
JournalNeuromuscular Disorders
Volume32
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 09-2022
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Genetics(clinical)

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