Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31391248›Full record

ArticleNeurology2019

Skeletal muscle MRI differentiates SBMA and ALS and correlates with disease severity.

Uros Klickovic, Luca Zampedri, Christopher D J Sinclair, Stephen J Wastling, Karin Trimmel, Robin S Howard, Andrea Malaspina, Nikhil Sharma, Katie Sidle, Ahmed Emira and 7 more

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Neurology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 33 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
33citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
4.7field-weighted citation impact, top 5% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

33 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 64 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. The evolving role of surface electromyography in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A systematic review.Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2020
    Pooled it
  3. Observational
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Muscle MRI quantifies disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry · 2025
    Article
  8. Article
  9. Observational
  10. Review
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Pattern of pareses in 5q-spinal muscular atrophy.Therapeutic advances in neurological disorders · 2024
    Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Review
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Uros KlickovicFrom the Neuroradiological Academic Unit (C.D.J.S., S.J.W., A.E., S.S., T.A.Y., J.S.T.), and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases (U.K., L.Z., K.T., R.S.H., N.S., K.S., M.G.H., L.G., J.M.M., P.F.), UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; Blizard Institute (A.M.), Queen Mary University of London, UK; and Department of Radiology (U.K.), University Hospital Tulln, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Tulln, Austria.
Luca ZampedriFrom the Neuroradiological Academic Unit (C.D.J.S., S.J.W., A.E., S.S., T.A.Y., J.S.T.), and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases (U.K., L.Z., K.T., R.S.H., N.S., K.S., M.G.H., L.G., J.M.M., P.F.), UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; Blizard Institute (A.M.), Queen Mary University of London, UK; and Department of Radiology (U.K.), University Hospital Tulln, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Tulln, Austria.
Christopher D J SinclairFrom the Neuroradiological Academic Unit (C.D.J.S., S.J.W., A.E., S.S., T.A.Y., J.S.T.), and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases (U.K., L.Z., K.T., R.S.H., N.S., K.S., M.G.H., L.G., J.M.M., P.F.), UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; Blizard Institute (A.M.), Queen Mary University of London, UK; and Department of Radiology (U.K.), University Hospital Tulln, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Tulln, Austria.
Stephen J WastlingFrom the Neuroradiological Academic Unit (C.D.J.S., S.J.W., A.E., S.S., T.A.Y., J.S.T.), and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases (U.K., L.Z., K.T., R.S.H., N.S., K.S., M.G.H., L.G., J.M.M., P.F.), UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; Blizard Institute (A.M.), Queen Mary University of London, UK; and Department of Radiology (U.K.), University Hospital Tulln, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Tulln, Austria.
Karin TrimmelFrom the Neuroradiological Academic Unit (C.D.J.S., S.J.W., A.E., S.S., T.A.Y., J.S.T.), and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases (U.K., L.Z., K.T., R.S.H., N.S., K.S., M.G.H., L.G., J.M.M., P.F.), UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; Blizard Institute (A.M.), Queen Mary University of London, UK; and Department of Radiology (U.K.), University Hospital Tulln, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Tulln, Austria.
Robin S HowardFrom the Neuroradiological Academic Unit (C.D.J.S., S.J.W., A.E., S.S., T.A.Y., J.S.T.), and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases (U.K., L.Z., K.T., R.S.H., N.S., K.S., M.G.H., L.G., J.M.M., P.F.), UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; Blizard Institute (A.M.), Queen Mary University of London, UK; and Department of Radiology (U.K.), University Hospital Tulln, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Tulln, Austria.
Andrea MalaspinaFrom the Neuroradiological Academic Unit (C.D.J.S., S.J.W., A.E., S.S., T.A.Y., J.S.T.), and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases (U.K., L.Z., K.T., R.S.H., N.S., K.S., M.G.H., L.G., J.M.M., P.F.), UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; Blizard Institute (A.M.), Queen Mary University of London, UK; and Department of Radiology (U.K.), University Hospital Tulln, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Tulln, Austria.
Nikhil SharmaFrom the Neuroradiological Academic Unit (C.D.J.S., S.J.W., A.E., S.S., T.A.Y., J.S.T.), and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases (U.K., L.Z., K.T., R.S.H., N.S., K.S., M.G.H., L.G., J.M.M., P.F.), UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; Blizard Institute (A.M.), Queen Mary University of London, UK; and Department of Radiology (U.K.), University Hospital Tulln, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Tulln, Austria.
Katie SidleFrom the Neuroradiological Academic Unit (C.D.J.S., S.J.W., A.E., S.S., T.A.Y., J.S.T.), and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases (U.K., L.Z., K.T., R.S.H., N.S., K.S., M.G.H., L.G., J.M.M., P.F.), UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; Blizard Institute (A.M.), Queen Mary University of London, UK; and Department of Radiology (U.K.), University Hospital Tulln, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Tulln, Austria.
Ahmed EmiraFrom the Neuroradiological Academic Unit (C.D.J.S., S.J.W., A.E., S.S., T.A.Y., J.S.T.), and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases (U.K., L.Z., K.T., R.S.H., N.S., K.S., M.G.H., L.G., J.M.M., P.F.), UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; Blizard Institute (A.M.), Queen Mary University of London, UK; and Department of Radiology (U.K.), University Hospital Tulln, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Tulln, Austria.
Sachit ShahFrom the Neuroradiological Academic Unit (C.D.J.S., S.J.W., A.E., S.S., T.A.Y., J.S.T.), and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases (U.K., L.Z., K.T., R.S.H., N.S., K.S., M.G.H., L.G., J.M.M., P.F.), UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; Blizard Institute (A.M.), Queen Mary University of London, UK; and Department of Radiology (U.K.), University Hospital Tulln, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Tulln, Austria.
Tarek A YousryFrom the Neuroradiological Academic Unit (C.D.J.S., S.J.W., A.E., S.S., T.A.Y., J.S.T.), and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases (U.K., L.Z., K.T., R.S.H., N.S., K.S., M.G.H., L.G., J.M.M., P.F.), UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; Blizard Institute (A.M.), Queen Mary University of London, UK; and Department of Radiology (U.K.), University Hospital Tulln, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Tulln, Austria.
Michael G HannaFrom the Neuroradiological Academic Unit (C.D.J.S., S.J.W., A.E., S.S., T.A.Y., J.S.T.), and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases (U.K., L.Z., K.T., R.S.H., N.S., K.S., M.G.H., L.G., J.M.M., P.F.), UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; Blizard Institute (A.M.), Queen Mary University of London, UK; and Department of Radiology (U.K.), University Hospital Tulln, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Tulln, Austria.
Linda GreensmithFrom the Neuroradiological Academic Unit (C.D.J.S., S.J.W., A.E., S.S., T.A.Y., J.S.T.), and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases (U.K., L.Z., K.T., R.S.H., N.S., K.S., M.G.H., L.G., J.M.M., P.F.), UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; Blizard Institute (A.M.), Queen Mary University of London, UK; and Department of Radiology (U.K.), University Hospital Tulln, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Tulln, Austria.
Jasper M MorrowFrom the Neuroradiological Academic Unit (C.D.J.S., S.J.W., A.E., S.S., T.A.Y., J.S.T.), and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases (U.K., L.Z., K.T., R.S.H., N.S., K.S., M.G.H., L.G., J.M.M., P.F.), UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; Blizard Institute (A.M.), Queen Mary University of London, UK; and Department of Radiology (U.K.), University Hospital Tulln, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Tulln, Austria.
John S ThorntonFrom the Neuroradiological Academic Unit (C.D.J.S., S.J.W., A.E., S.S., T.A.Y., J.S.T.), and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases (U.K., L.Z., K.T., R.S.H., N.S., K.S., M.G.H., L.G., J.M.M., P.F.), UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; Blizard Institute (A.M.), Queen Mary University of London, UK; and Department of Radiology (U.K.), University Hospital Tulln, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Tulln, Austria. p.fratta@ucl.ac.uk john.thornton@ucl.ac.uk.
Pietro FrattaFrom the Neuroradiological Academic Unit (C.D.J.S., S.J.W., A.E., S.S., T.A.Y., J.S.T.), and MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases (U.K., L.Z., K.T., R.S.H., N.S., K.S., M.G.H., L.G., J.M.M., P.F.), UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; Blizard Institute (A.M.), Queen Mary University of London, UK; and Department of Radiology (U.K.), University Hospital Tulln, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Tulln, Austria. p.fratta@ucl.ac.uk john.thornton@ucl.ac.uk.
Queen Mary University of London · GB

Funding

Medical Research Council MR/M008606/1Medical Research Council MR/M009106/1Medical Research Council MR/S006508/1Motor Neurone Disease Association FRATTA/JAN15/946-795Motor Neurone Disease Association MALASPINA/APR13/817-791Motor Neurone Disease Association TURNER/OCT15/972-797
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo investigate the use of muscle MRI for the differential diagnosis and as a disease progression biomarker for 2 major forms of motor neuron disorders: spinal bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

methodsWe applied quantitative 3-point Dixon and semiquantitative T1-weighted and short tau inversion recovery (STIR) imaging to bulbar and lower limb muscles and performed clinical and functional assessments in ALS (n = 21) and SBMA (n = 21), alongside healthy controls (n = 16). Acquired images were analyzed for the presence of fat infiltration or edema as well as specific patterns of muscle involvement. Quantitative MRI measurements were correlated with clinical measures of disease severity in ALS and SBMA.

resultsQuantitative imaging revealed significant fat infiltration in bulbar (

conclusionsOur findings show that muscle MRI differentiates between SBMA and ALS and correlates with disease severity, supporting its use as a diagnostic tool and biomarker for disease progression. This highlights the clinical utility of muscle MRI in motor neuron disorders and contributes to establish objective outcome measures, which is crucial for the development of new drugs.

Indexed as

Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisCase-Control StudiesCross-Sectional StudiesDiagnosis, DifferentialFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedMuscle, SkeletalMuscular Atrophy, SpinalProspective StudiesSeverity of Illness Index

Identifiers

PMID31391248
PMCPMC6745729
OpenAlexW2966141253

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LicenceCC BY
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.