Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40089964›Full record

ArticleJournal of neurology2025

Whole-body muscle MRI in patients with spinal muscular atrophy.

Sophia Vera Frølich, Noémie Receveur, Nanna Scharff Poulsen, Adam Espe Hansen, John Vissing

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Biomarkers in spinal muscular atrophy.Frontiers in neurology · 2025
    Review
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

5 authors.

Sophia Vera FrølichCopenhagen Neuromuscular Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark. sophia.vera.froelich.01@regionh.dk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-2011-642X
Noémie ReceveurCopenhagen Neuromuscular Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-2959-361X
Nanna Scharff PoulsenCopenhagen Neuromuscular Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3739-8759
Adam Espe HansenDepartment of Radiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6457-1537
John VissingCopenhagen Neuromuscular Center, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6144-8544

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSpinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a motor neuron disease with loss of musculature, which is replaced by fat. Previous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have focused on imaging muscles either in lower or upper extremities, but whole-body MRI can provide additional information on the involvement pattern. This study examined whole-body muscle fat replacement and the relationship between muscle structure, function, and bulbar symptoms.

methodWe conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional study. We assessed the fat replacement in skeletal muscles using whole-body MRI, the muscle function using the Motor Function Measurement 32, and bulbar muscle strength using the Bulbar Rating Scale. The presence of bulbar symptoms and function was assessed using the Voice Handicap Index, Eating Assessment Tool questionnaires, and a swallowing test.

resultsWe recruited 20 adult patients with type II and III SMA. The most affected muscles were the psoas major, soleus and rectus femoris, while the least affected muscles were the biceps brachii, deltoideus, and pterygoideus medialis. The tongue was involved in nearly half of the patients. Most patients reported issues with swallowing (75%) and voice (95%) but had relatively preserved strength of bulbar muscles.

conclusionCertain muscles are more prone to fat replacement than others in SMA, with a predominant proximal-distal and extensor-flexor involvement. Nearly half of the patients had increased fat content in the tongue, which is associated with dysphagia. In addition, most patients retained muscle strength in the bulbar muscles, despite advanced muscle weakness in the rest of the body.

Indexed as

Magnetic Resonance ImagingMuscle, SkeletalMuscular Atrophy, SpinalWhole Body ImagingAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedMuscle StrengthYoung AdultBulbar functionFat replacementMagnetic resonance imagingSpinal muscular atrophyTongue fat fraction

Identifiers

PMID40089964
PMCPMC11911266

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Registered trials

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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.