Multiple sclerosis affects skeletal muscle characteristics

Inez Wens; Ulrik Dalgas; Frank Vandenabeele; Maartje Krekels; Lotte Grevendonk; Bert O Eijnde

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0108158

Multiple sclerosis affects skeletal muscle characteristics

PLoS One. 2014 Sep 29;9(9):e108158. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108158. eCollection 2014.

Authors

Inez Wens¹, Ulrik Dalgas², Frank Vandenabeele¹, Maartje Krekels¹, Lotte Grevendonk¹, Bert O Eijnde¹

Affiliations

¹ REVAL - Rehabilitation Research Center, BIOMED - Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium.
² Section of Sport Science, Dep. Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.

Abstract

Background: The impact of multiple sclerosis (MS) on skeletal muscle characteristics, such as muscle fiber cross sectional area (CSA), fiber type proportion, muscle strength and whole muscle mass, remains conflicting.

Methods: In this cross sectional study, body composition and muscle strength of the quadriceps were assessed in 34 MS (EDSS: 2.5±0.19) patients and 18 matched healthy controls (HC). Hereafter a muscle biopsy (m.vastus lateralis) was taken.

Results: Compared to HC, mean muscle fiber CSA of all fibers, as well as CSA of type I, II and IIa fibers were smaller and muscle strength of the quadriceps was lower in MS patients. Whole body composition was comparable between groups. However, compared to HC, the biopsied leg tended to have a higher fat percentage (p = 0.1) and a lower lean mass (p = 0.06) in MS patients.

Conclusion: MS seems to negatively influence skeletal muscle fiber CSA, muscle strength and muscle mass of the lower limbs of mildly affected MS patients. This emphasises the need for rehabilitation programs focusing on muscle preservation of the lower limb.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01845896.

Publication types

Clinical Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Body Composition
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Multiple Sclerosis / pathology*
Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / pathology*
Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / physiology*
Muscle Strength / physiology*
Quadriceps Muscle / pathology
Quadriceps Muscle / physiology

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01845896

Grants and funding

Inez Wens and Bert Op't Eijnde received support from MS Fund Limburg, Flanders. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.