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These authors compared the sensitivity of two techniques that track disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): A scale, currently used in clinical practice, that measures clinical function and muscle strength, and an investigational technique that measures the electrophysiologic functioning of nerves.
Ten ALS patients were assessed at approximately 12, 18, and 24 months after symptom onset with the Appel scale (Ann Neurol 1987; 22:328), which combines measures of activities of daily living, forced vital capacity, and muscle strength in 4 limbs; higher scores indicate poorer function. At each of these 3 assessments, the researchers also determined motor unit number estimation (MUNE), an electrophysiologic estimate of the numb…