Subtle upper limb impairment in asymptomatic multiple sclerosis subjects

• Published in: Multiple sclerosis Vol. 13; no. 3; pp. 428 - 432
• Main Authors: Solaro, C., Brichetto, G., Casadio, M., Roccatagliata, L., Ruggiu, P., Mancardi, G.L., Morasso, P.G., Tanganelli, P., Sanguineti, V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.04.2007; Arnold; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Age of Onset; Arm; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - pathology; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Demyelinating Diseases - physiopathology; Demyelinating Diseases - psychology; Humans; Immunomodulators; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Motor Activity; Multiple Sclerosis - physiopathology; Multiple Sclerosis - psychology; Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis; Neurology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Psychomotor Performance; Reference Values; upper limb; asymptomatic; multiple sclerosis; sensorimotor control; digitizing tablet; Human; Speed; Multiple sclerosis; Nervous system diseases; Digitizing; Asymptomatic; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Hand; Inflammatory disease; Vision; Central nervous system disease; Strategy; Tablet; Degenerative disease; Upper limb; Performance; Visual control
• ISSN: 1352-4585; 1477-0970
• DOI: 10.1177/1352458506069926

We evaluated upper limb function in multiple sclerosis (MS) subjects (11 clinically definite MS patients and seven clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) subjects), with a normal upper limb standard neurological examination. Subjects performed center-out reaching movements under visual control, with and without vision of the hand. Their movements were recorded through a digitizing tablet. Motor performance was also related to lesion load, estimated from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We found that in MS and CIS subjects, under the hand vision condition, movements were significantly less smooth, and had a less symmetric speed profile. However, the observed impairment did not correlate with MRI findings. This result may be interpreted as evidence of a compensatory strategy, elicited by subtle alterations in sensorimotor control. Multiple Sclerosis 2007; 13: 428-432. http://msj.sagepub.com