Diagnostic accuracy and confounders of vagus nerve ultrasound in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-a single-center case series and pooled individual patient data meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Several single-center studies proposed utility of vagus nerve (VN) ultrasound for detecting disease severity, autonomic dysfunction, and bulbar phenotype in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, the resulting body of literature shows opposing results, leaving considerable uncertainty on the clinical benefits of VN ultrasound in ALS.

Methods

Relevant studies were identified up to 04/2024 and individual patient data (IPD) obtained from the respective authors were pooled with a so far unpublished cohort (from Munich). An IPD meta-analysis of 109 patients with probable or definite ALS (El Escorial criteria) and available VN cross-sectional area (CSA) was performed, with age, sex, ALS Functional Rating Scale-revised (ALSFRS-R), disease duration, and bulbar phen

SUBMITTER: Muller KJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11377580 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature