title: Innovative quantitative testing of hand function in Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy.
abstract: To describe a new test to quantitatively evaluate hand function in patients affected by Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy (CMT). The sensor-engineered glove test (SEGT) was applied to CMT patients (N: 26) and compared with a cohort of healthy controls (HC, N: 26). CMT patients were further divided into subjects with clinically normal (group 1) or impaired hand (group 2) function. The SEGT parameters evaluated were touch duration, inter-tapping interval, and movement rate parameters of two different sequences: finger tapping (FT) and index-medium-ring-little (IMRL) performed at self-paced mode (SPM) and maximum velocity (MV). Hand function and strength were assessed by the 9-hole peg test (9HPT) and dynamometry. Disability of patients was measured by the CMT neuropathy score. CMT patients had significantly worst performances at SEGT than controls regarding the rate of execution of both FT (at MV) and IMRL sequences (at SPM and MV). The rate parameter at MV in IMRL sequence showed a significant trend of decreasing in its average between HC (n: 26, rate = 3.08 ± 0.52 Hz), group 1 (n: 9, rate = 2.64 ± 0.66 Hz) and group 2 (n: 17, rate = 2.19 ± 0.45 Hz) (p for trend <0.001). No correlations were found with either 9HPT, dynamometry, electrophysiology, and the CMT neuropathy score. The SEGT test is sensitive to show hand dysfunction in CMT patients, with and without clinically impaired hands.
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Francini
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Poggi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monti Bragadin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bellone
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grandis
authors.affiliation: IRCCS San Martino-IST, University Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.affiliation: IRCCS San Martino-IST, University Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Lizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reni
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, Section of Biostatistics, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Sormani
authors.affiliation: Scientific Research Area, Italian Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (FISM), Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tacchino
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, USCS University, Rome, Italy.|Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Padua
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Prada
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bove
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophtalmology, Genetics, Maternal, and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.|IRCCS San Martino-IST, University Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schenone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002607:Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CMT; Charcot-Marie-Tooth; hand dexterity; hand strength; sensory-engineered glove test