Dissociated leg muscle atrophy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease: the 'split-leg' sign.

ABSTRACT: Disproportionate muscle atrophy is a distinct phenomenon in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); however, preferentially affected leg muscles remain unknown. We aimed to identify this split-leg phenomenon in ALS and determine its pathophysiology. Patients with ALS (n = 143), progressive muscular atrophy (PMA, n = 36), and age-matched healthy controls (HC, n = 53) were retrospectively identified from our motor neuron disease registry. We analyzed their disease duration, onset region, ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised Scores, and results of neurological examination. Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of the extensor digitorum brevis (EDB), abductor hallucis (AH), and tibialis anterior (TA) were reviewed. Defined by CMAP_EDB/CMAP_AH (SI_EDB) and CMAP_T

SUBMITTER: Min YG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7518279 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature