Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42709229›Full record

ArticleJournal of neurology2026

Phrenic nerve amplitude as an effort-independent prognostic biomarker of respiratory failure in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

José Castro, Vasco Sá, Diana Lopes, Inês Alves, Miguel Oliveira Santos, Mamede de Carvalho

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neurology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

6 authors.

José CastroDepartment of Neurosciences and Mental Health, ULS de Santa Maria, Hospital de Santa Maria, Av. Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal. jose.zecastro25@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8984-475X
Vasco SáFaculdade de Medicina, Institute of Physiology, Centro de Estudos Egas Moniz and MUHCRI, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
Diana LopesFaculdade de Medicina, Institute of Physiology, Centro de Estudos Egas Moniz and MUHCRI, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
Inês AlvesFaculdade de Medicina, Institute of Physiology, Centro de Estudos Egas Moniz and MUHCRI, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
Miguel Oliveira SantosDepartment of Neurosciences and Mental Health, ULS de Santa Maria, Hospital de Santa Maria, Av. Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal.
Mamede de CarvalhoDepartment of Neurosciences and Mental Health, ULS de Santa Maria, Hospital de Santa Maria, Av. Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveIn amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the effort-dependent respiratory metrics used to determine the timing of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) lose reliability as bulbar and/or cognitive impairment progresses. We tested whether the effort-independent phrenic nerve compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude predicts the timing of NIV independently of forced vital capacity (FVC) and the revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R).

methodsPre-registered analysis of a single-centre ALS cohort (n = 1,486) contributing 2968 serial phrenic nerve conduction studies. Amplitude was expressed as percentage of an age- and sex-predicted value (per 10% decrease), and time to NIV initiation was the primary outcome (death competing). We used cause-specific Cox models, time-dependent and bootstrap-validated discrimination, and a Bayesian joint longitudinal-survival model.

resultsLower amplitude predicted earlier NIV (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.22 per 10% decrease, 95% CI 1.16-1.27; likelihood-ratio χ

conclusionsPhrenic nerve conduction studies, an effort-independent neurophysiological marker carried robust, near-term, incremental prognostic information for NIV beyond FVC and ALSFRS-R, establishing diaphragmatic motor amplitude as a candidate biomarker for objective respiratory prognostication in ALS. External validation and recalibration are required before clinical use.

Indexed as

Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisPhrenic NerveRespiratory InsufficiencyAction PotentialsAgedBiomarkersCohort StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNerve Conduction StudiesNoninvasive VentilationPrognosisBiomarkersAmyotrophic lateral sclerosisNon-invasive ventilationPhrenic nervePrognosisSurvival

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.