Subclinical motor impairment assessed with an engineered glove correlates with magnetic resonance imaging tissue damage in radiologically isolated syndrome

Eur J Neurol. 2019 Jan;26(1):162-167. doi: 10.1111/ene.13789. Epub 2018 Sep 24.

Abstract

Background: An engineered glove measuring finger motor performance previously showed ability to discriminate early-stage multiple sclerosis (MS) patients from healthy controls (HCs). Radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) classifies asymptomatic subjects with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities suggestive of multiple sclerosis.

Methods: Seventeen asymptomatic subjects with RIS and 17 HCs were assessed. They performed finger-to-thumb opposition sequences at their maximal velocity, metronome-paced bimanual movements and conventional and diffusion tensor MRI.

Results: Subjects with RIS showed lower (P = 0.005) maximal velocity and higher (P = 0.006) bimanual coordination impairment than HCs. In RIS, bimanual coordination correlated with T2-lesion volume, fractional anisotropy and radial diffusivity in the white matter.

Conclusions: These findings point out the relevance of fine hand measures as a robust marker of subclinical disability.

Keywords: diffusion tensor imaging; finger movements; multiple sclerosis; outcome measures; radiologically isolated syndrome; upper limbs.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anisotropy
  • Diffusion Tensor Imaging
  • Female
  • Fingers / physiopathology
  • Hand / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Movement Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Movement Disorders / diagnostic imaging*
  • Movement Disorders / physiopathology
  • Multiple Sclerosis / diagnosis*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / physiopathology
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • White Matter / diagnostic imaging