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Multicenter Study
. 2017 Oct;56(4):710-715.
doi: 10.1002/mus.25586. Epub 2017 Mar 21.

Fixed dynamometry is more sensitive than vital capacity or ALS rating scale

Patricia L Andres  1 , Margaret Peggy Allred  2 , Helen E Stephens  3 , Mary Proffitt Bunnell  4 , Catherine Siener  5 , Eric A Macklin  1 , Travis Haines  3 , Robert A English  4 , Katherine A Fetterman  2 , Edward J Kasarskis  4 , Julaine Florence  5 , Zachary Simmons  3 , Merit E Cudkowicz  1
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Fixed dynamometry is more sensitive than vital capacity or ALS rating scale

Patricia L Andres et al. Muscle Nerve. 2017 Oct.

Abstract

Introduction: Improved outcome measures are essential to efficiently screen the growing number of potential amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) therapies.

Methods: This longitudinal study of 100 (70 male) participants with ALS compared Accurate Test of Limb Isometric Strength (ATLIS), using a fixed, wireless load cell, with ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) and vital capacity (VC).

Results: Participants enrolled at 5 U.S. sites. Data were analyzed from 66 participants with complete ATLIS, ALSFRS-R, and VC data over at least 3 visits. Change in ATLIS was less variable both within- and among-person than change in ALSFRS-R or VC. Additionally, participants who had normal ALSFRS-R arm and leg function averaged 12 to 32% below expected strength values measured by ATLIS.

Conclusions: ATLIS was more sensitive to change than ALSFRS-R or VC and could decrease sample size requirements by approximately one-third. The ability of ATLIS to detect prefunctional change has potential value in early trials. Muscle Nerve 56: 710-715, 2017.

Keywords: ALS; ALSFRS-R; longitudinal; outcome measure; strength; vital capacity.

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