iMAX: A new tool for assessment of motor axon excitability. A multicenter prospective study

Abstract

Objective: This study was undertaken to establish by a multicentric approach the reliability of a new technique evaluating motor axon excitability.

Methods: The minimal threshold, the lowest stimulus intensity allowing a maximal response by 1 mA increments (iUP) and then by 0.1 mA adjustments (iMAX) were prospectively derived from three nerves (median, ulnar, fibular) in four university centers (Liège, Marseille, Fraiture, Nice). iMAX procedure was applied in 28 healthy volunteers (twice) and 32 patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT1a), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), Guillain-Barré syndrome (SGB) or axonal neuropathy.

Results: Healthy volunteers results were not significantly different between centers. Correlation coefficients between test and retest were moderate (> 0.5). Upper limits of normal were established using the 95th percentile. Comparison of volunteers and patient groups indicated significant increases in iMAX parameters especially for the CMT1a and CIDP groups. In CMT1a, iMAX abnormalities were homogeneous at the three stimulation sites, which was not the case for CIDP.

Conclusions: The iMAX procedure is reliable and allows the monitoring of motor axon excitability disorders.

Significance: The iMAX technique should prove useful to monitor motor axonal excitability in routine clinical practice as it is a fast, non-invasive procedure, easily applicable without specific software or devices.

Keywords: Charcot-Marie-Tooth; Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy; Excitability; Guillain-Barré syndrome; Motor axon; Peripheral nerve.