Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2022 | Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis | Research
Corneal confocal microscopy in the evaluation of immune-related motor neuron disease syndrome
Published in: BMC Neurology | Issue 1/2022
Login to get accessAbstract
Background
To investigate the sensitivity and specificity of corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) in the diagnosis of immune-related motor neuron disease syndrome and evaluation of the response to immunosuppressive therapy.
Methods
Seventy-two patients with clinical manifestations of motor neuron disease (MND) were analysed. According to whether they had concomitant rheumatic immune disease or rheumatic immune antibody abnormalities, they were divided into an MND group (33 patients) and an immune-related MND syndrome group (39 patients). Another 10 healthy adults were selected as the control group. All individuals were examined by CCM.
Results
For Langerhans cell(LC) density, the area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was 0.8, the best cut-off was 67.7 cells/mm2, the sensitivity was 79.5%, and the specificity was 72.7%. For inferior whorl length (IWL), the area under the ROC curve was 0.674, the best cut-off was 17.41 mm/mm2, the sensitivity was 69.2%, and the specificity was 66.7%. After immunosuppressive therapy in 5 patients with immune-related MND syndrome, the LCD was significantly reduced (P < 0.05), and there was no statistically significant change in the IWL (P > 0.05).
Conclusion
The LC density and IWL are ideal for distinguishing MND from immune-related MND syndrome. The LC density reflects the immunotherapy response sensitively.