Motor unit number estimation (MUNE) in diseases of the motor neuron: utility and comparative analysis in a multimodal biomarker study

We prospectively studied 64 patients with motor neuron disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), familial ALS (fALS), progressive muscular atrophy (PMA) and primary lateral sclerosis (PLS)) using multiple point stimulation motor unit number estimation (MUNE), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H MRSI), diffusion tensor imaging (MRDTI), and clinical measures at baseline and every 3 months thereafter for 15 months. Substantial differences in MUNE were noted among the motor neuron disease subgroups (P = 0.0005) and mean values for each motor neuron disease subgroup were significantly lower vs. controls (ALS = 76, fALS = 80, PMA = 29, and PLS = 174) vs. the normal control average (267). MUNE correlated well with % FVC (r = 0.32; P = 0.01), manual muscle testing (r = 0.52; P0.0005), grip strength (r = 0.34; P = 0.007), and pinch strength (r = 0.49; P0.0005). Overall, MUNE showed the greatest significant change over time of any measure, clinical or otherwise, tested in this study (-2.35 linear trend % change per month, mean). MUNE clearly delineates lower motor neuron dysfunction, strongly correlates with important clinical functions (such as strength and respiration) and is a highly sensitive marker of disease progression over time. These features make MUNE an important tool for both the study of the pathophysiology of the motor neuron diseases, as well as an important measure for incorporation into future clinical trials.