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Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Skeletal Muscle Disease

Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Skeletal Muscle Disease

Published on: December 18, 2016

Multiple sclerosis affects skeletal muscle characteristics

Inez Wens¹, Ulrik Dalgas², Frank Vandenabeele¹

¹REVAL - Rehabilitation Research Center, BIOMED - Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium.

|September 30, 2014

Abstract

Background:

The impact of multiple sclerosis (MS) on skeletal muscle characteristics, such as muscle fiber cross sectional area (CSA), fiber type proportion, muscle strength and whole muscle mass, remains conflicting.

Methods:

In this cross sectional study, body composition and muscle strength of the quadriceps were assessed in 34 MS (EDSS: 2.5±0.19) patients and 18 matched healthy controls (HC). Hereafter a muscle biopsy (m.vastus lateralis) was taken.

Results:

Compared to HC, mean muscle fiber CSA of all fibers, as well as CSA of type I, II and IIa fibers were smaller and muscle strength of the quadriceps was lower in MS patients. Whole body composition was comparable between groups. However, compared to HC, the biopsied leg tended to have a higher fat percentage (p = 0.1) and a lower lean mass (p = 0.06) in MS patients.

Conclusion:

MS seems to negatively influence skeletal muscle fiber CSA, muscle strength and muscle mass of the lower limbs of mildly affected MS patients. This emphasises the need for rehabilitation programs focusing on muscle preservation of the lower limb.

Trial Registration:

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01845896.

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