Authors:
Elzamarany E; Afifi L; El-Fayoumy NM; Salah H; Nada M. Institution Elzamarany, Eman. Clinical Neurophysiology Unit, Cairo University Hospitals, Kasr Alainy St., Cairo, 11562, Egypt. Afifi, Lamia. Clinical Neurophysiology Unit, Cairo University Hospi tals, Kasr Alainy St., Cairo, 11562, Egypt. lafifi2@kasralainy.edu.eg . El -Fayoumy, Neveen M. Clinical Neurophysiology Unit, Cairo Univ ersity Hospitals, Kasr Alainy St., Cairo, 11562, Egypt. Salah, Husam. Neurology Department, Cairo University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt. Nada, Mona. Clinical Neurophysiology Unit, Cairo University Hospit als, Kasr Alainy St., Cairo, 11562, Egypt.
Title:
Motor cortex rTMS improves dexterity in relapsing-remitting and sec ondary progressive multiple sclerosis.
Source:
Acta Neurologica Belgica. 116(2):145-50, 2016 Jun.
Abstract:
The motor cortex (MC) receives an excitatory input from the cerebell um which is reduced in patients with cerebellar lesions. High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) induces cortical facilitation which can counteract the reduced cerebellar drive to the MC. Our study included 24 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) patients with dysmetria. The patients were divided into two groups: Group A received two sessions of real MC rTMS and Group B received one session of real rTMS and one session of sham rTMS. Ten healthy volunteers formed group C. Evaluation was carried out using the nine-hole pegboard task and the cerebellar functional system score (FSS) of the expanded disability status scale (EDSS). Group A patients showed a significant improvement in the time required to finish the pegboard task (P = 0.002) and in their cerebellar FSS (P = 0.000) directly after the second session and 1 month later. The RRMS patients showed more improvement than the SPMS patients. Group B patients did not show any improvement in the pegboard task or the cerebellar FSS. These results indicate that MC rTMS can be a promising option in treating both RRMS or SPMS patients with cerebellar impairment and that its effect can be long-lasting.
Publication TypeJournal Article.
Randomized Controlled Trial.
