Quantifying the split-elbow sign: a comprehensive study in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

PurposeThe split-elbow sign (SES), characterized by preferential dysfunction of the biceps brachii compared to the triceps, is a clinical feature observed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, the quantified SES index has not been extensively investigated, and its role in diagnosing ALS r...

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Main Authors: Sheng-Yi He, Wei-Chen Cai, Wei-Ming Su, Qing-Qing Duan, Zheng Jiang, Kang-Fu Yin, Xiao-Jing Gu, Yong-Ping Chen, Bei Cao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Neurology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1499668/full
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author Sheng-Yi He
Wei-Chen Cai
Wei-Ming Su
Qing-Qing Duan
Zheng Jiang
Kang-Fu Yin
Xiao-Jing Gu
Yong-Ping Chen
Bei Cao
author_facet Sheng-Yi He
Wei-Chen Cai
Wei-Ming Su
Qing-Qing Duan
Zheng Jiang
Kang-Fu Yin
Xiao-Jing Gu
Yong-Ping Chen
Bei Cao
author_sort Sheng-Yi He
collection DOAJ
description PurposeThe split-elbow sign (SES), characterized by preferential dysfunction of the biceps brachii compared to the triceps, is a clinical feature observed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, the quantified SES index has not been extensively investigated, and its role in diagnosing ALS remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the split-elbow index (SEI) derived from compound muscle action potential (CMAP), motor unit number index (MUNIX), and echo intensity (EI) in ALS.MethodsA cohort comprising 70 individuals diagnosed with ALS, along with 41 disease controls and 40 healthy controls, was recruited for the study. The SEI was calculated by dividing the recorded values of CMAP, MUNIX, and EI obtained over the biceps brachii by the corresponding value measured in the triceps, resulting in SEICMAP, SEIMUNIX, and SEIEI, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of the three methods were used for comparison. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS V.26.0 and R software.ResultsBoth SEICMAP and SEIMUNIX exhibited significant reductions in ALS patients compared to that in controls (PSEICMAp < 0.0001, PSEIMUNIX < 0.0001), while SEIEI showed an elevation (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, there was a notable decrease in SEIMUNIX values as the disease progressed (p < 0.001). Moreover, ROC for SEIMUNIX exhibited superior diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.846), and a comprehensive diagnostic approach combining SEICMAP, SEIMUNIX, and SEIEI resulted in AUC (0.90) on the ROC curve.ConclusionOur study suggested that SES has emerged as a significant clinical characteristic in ALS and indicated the potential of SES indicators as biomarkers for both diagnosis and assessment of disease progression in ALS.
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spelling doaj-art-d9f1d1727abc42d1b2d03dbd0958918a2025-08-20T02:51:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952024-12-011510.3389/fneur.2024.14996681499668Quantifying the split-elbow sign: a comprehensive study in amyotrophic lateral sclerosisSheng-Yi He0Wei-Chen Cai1Wei-Ming Su2Qing-Qing Duan3Zheng Jiang4Kang-Fu Yin5Xiao-Jing Gu6Yong-Ping Chen7Bei Cao8Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaPurposeThe split-elbow sign (SES), characterized by preferential dysfunction of the biceps brachii compared to the triceps, is a clinical feature observed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, the quantified SES index has not been extensively investigated, and its role in diagnosing ALS remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the split-elbow index (SEI) derived from compound muscle action potential (CMAP), motor unit number index (MUNIX), and echo intensity (EI) in ALS.MethodsA cohort comprising 70 individuals diagnosed with ALS, along with 41 disease controls and 40 healthy controls, was recruited for the study. The SEI was calculated by dividing the recorded values of CMAP, MUNIX, and EI obtained over the biceps brachii by the corresponding value measured in the triceps, resulting in SEICMAP, SEIMUNIX, and SEIEI, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of the three methods were used for comparison. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS V.26.0 and R software.ResultsBoth SEICMAP and SEIMUNIX exhibited significant reductions in ALS patients compared to that in controls (PSEICMAp < 0.0001, PSEIMUNIX < 0.0001), while SEIEI showed an elevation (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, there was a notable decrease in SEIMUNIX values as the disease progressed (p < 0.001). Moreover, ROC for SEIMUNIX exhibited superior diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.846), and a comprehensive diagnostic approach combining SEICMAP, SEIMUNIX, and SEIEI resulted in AUC (0.90) on the ROC curve.ConclusionOur study suggested that SES has emerged as a significant clinical characteristic in ALS and indicated the potential of SES indicators as biomarkers for both diagnosis and assessment of disease progression in ALS.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1499668/fullamyotrophic lateral sclerosissplit-elbow signsplit-elbow indexdiagnosisneuroelectrophysiology
spellingShingle Sheng-Yi He
Wei-Chen Cai
Wei-Ming Su
Qing-Qing Duan
Zheng Jiang
Kang-Fu Yin
Xiao-Jing Gu
Yong-Ping Chen
Bei Cao
Quantifying the split-elbow sign: a comprehensive study in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Frontiers in Neurology
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
split-elbow sign
split-elbow index
diagnosis
neuroelectrophysiology
title Quantifying the split-elbow sign: a comprehensive study in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
title_full Quantifying the split-elbow sign: a comprehensive study in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
title_fullStr Quantifying the split-elbow sign: a comprehensive study in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
title_full_unstemmed Quantifying the split-elbow sign: a comprehensive study in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
title_short Quantifying the split-elbow sign: a comprehensive study in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
title_sort quantifying the split elbow sign a comprehensive study in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
topic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
split-elbow sign
split-elbow index
diagnosis
neuroelectrophysiology
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1499668/full
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