Assessment of sympathetic sudomotor function in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with electrochemical skin conductance

摘要: ObjectiveAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is now recognized as a multisystem neurodegenerative disorder, comprising autonomic dysfunction. We aimed to assess sudomotor function in ALS by measuring the electrochemical skin conductance (ESC).MethodsThirty-one ALS patients [median age of 62 years (1st-3rd interquartile range – IQR, 56–72), male 71%] were prospectively compared with 29 healthy controls, matched for age and sex. We analysed ESC results from hands and feet, bilaterally.ResultsA total of 120 ESC recordings were obtained. Hands and feet ESC measurements were significantly lower in patients compared with controls [64 μS (1st-3rd IQR, 57–58) versus 78 μS (1st-3rd IQR, 70.5–84), p < 0.001 and 76 μS (1st-3rd IQR, 68–83) versus 81 μS (1st-3rd IQR, 78–86), p = 0.008, respectively]. In ALS group, no differences were observed between spinal and bulbar-onset forms for hands and feet …