Article

PURPOSE: To explore the difference between fatigued patients with multiple
sclerosis (MS) and matched healthy controls by applying a newly developed
physiological and functional data recording system.
METHODS: A portable wireless
measurement system, named FAtigue MOnitoring System (FAMOS), has been developed,
which can continuously measure electrocardiogram (ECG), body skin temperature,
electromyogram, and motion parameters. In a pilot study, 17 fatigued MS patients
(fatigue severity scale (FSS) = 53.9 SD 5.4) and 9 healthy matched controls (FSS
= 27.2 SD 6.8) were recruited and monitored by FAMOS during the execution of
functional (36 m walk test, 5- and 50-repetition sit-to-stand test) and cognitive
(short-term memory tests) tests. Furthermore, oxygen saturation (SPO(2)) was
measured during the functional and cognitive tests and during rest periods
between these tests. RESULTS: Recordings from FAMOS indicate that fatigued MS
patients have reduced standard deviation (SD) of the heart rate (HR) during the
short-term memory test, reduced high frequency (HF) component power spectrum
(representing parasympathetic activation) at rest after walk test, and higher
ratio of low frequency (LF) to HF (LF/HF) during 50-repetition sit-to-stand test.
CONCLUSIONS: FAMOS recordings can discriminate fatigued MS patients from healthy
controls. The data indicate that fatigued MS patients have vagus nerve
dysfunction during cognitive tests and disturbed sympathovagal balance during
stressful physical tests. [Box: see text].

Langue : ANGLAIS