German researchers have developed a multiparametric neuromuscular imaging protocol to estimate the impact and follow the evolution of motor neuron loss in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA):
- 13 adult patients and a control group participated in the study.
- The study consisted of imaging of the sciatic nerve and two muscles of the thigh (biceps femoris and quadriceps).
- 10 of the 13 patients had a new evaluation six months after the first one.
- the fatty infiltration at the muscle level made it possible to distinguish patients with the disease from those without, including from a longitudinal point of view
- the evaluation of the sciatic nerve did not show significant changes.
This work will be useful for therapeutic trials in SMA.
