Skip to main content
  • Neurology.org
  • Journals
    • Neurology
    • Clinical Practice
    • Education
    • Genetics
    • Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation
  • Online Sections
    • Neurology Video Journal Club
    • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)
    • Neurology: Clinical Practice Accelerator
    • Practice Buzz
    • Practice Current
    • Residents & Fellows
    • Without Borders
  • Collections
    • COVID-19
    • Disputes & Debates
    • Health Disparities
    • Infographics
    • Neurology Future Forecasting Series
    • Null Hypothesis
    • Patient Pages
    • Topics A-Z
    • Translations
  • Podcast
  • CME
  • About
    • About the Journals
    • Contact Us
    • Editorial Board
  • Authors
    • Submit New Manuscript
    • Submit Revised Manuscript
    • Author Center

Advanced Search

Main menu

  • Neurology.org
  • Journals
    • Neurology
    • Clinical Practice
    • Education
    • Genetics
    • Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation
  • Online Sections
    • Neurology Video Journal Club
    • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)
    • Neurology: Clinical Practice Accelerator
    • Practice Buzz
    • Practice Current
    • Residents & Fellows
    • Without Borders
  • Collections
    • COVID-19
    • Disputes & Debates
    • Health Disparities
    • Infographics
    • Neurology Future Forecasting Series
    • Null Hypothesis
    • Patient Pages
    • Topics A-Z
    • Translations
  • Podcast
  • CME
  • About
    • About the Journals
    • Contact Us
    • Editorial Board
  • Authors
    • Submit New Manuscript
    • Submit Revised Manuscript
    • Author Center
  • Home
  • Latest Articles
  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Neurology Video Journal Club
  • Residents & Fellows

User menu

  • Subscribe
  • My Alerts
  • Log in

Search

  • Advanced search
Neurology
Home
The most widely read and highly cited peer-reviewed neurology journal
  • Subscribe
  • My Alerts
  • Log in
Site Logo
  • Home
  • Latest Articles
  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Neurology Video Journal Club
  • Residents & Fellows

Share

September 24, 2019; 93 (13) Article

Long-term progression in type II spinal muscular atrophy

A retrospective observational study

Eugenio Mercuri, Simona Lucibello, Maria Carmela Pera, Sara Carnicella, Giorgia Coratti, Roberto de Sanctis, Sonia Messina, Elena Mazzone, Nicola Forcina, Lavinia Fanelli, Giulia Norcia, Laura Antonaci, Anna Lia Frongia, Marika Pane
First published August 26, 2019, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000008166
Eugenio Mercuri
From Pediatric Neurology (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., G.C., L.A., A.L.F.), Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Child Health Area, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Centro Clinico Nemo (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., S.C., G.C., R.d.S., E.M., N.F., L.F., G.N., L.A., A.L.F., M.P.), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome; and Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Anaesthesiology (S.M.), University of Messina, Italy.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Simona Lucibello
From Pediatric Neurology (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., G.C., L.A., A.L.F.), Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Child Health Area, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Centro Clinico Nemo (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., S.C., G.C., R.d.S., E.M., N.F., L.F., G.N., L.A., A.L.F., M.P.), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome; and Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Anaesthesiology (S.M.), University of Messina, Italy.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Maria Carmela Pera
From Pediatric Neurology (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., G.C., L.A., A.L.F.), Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Child Health Area, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Centro Clinico Nemo (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., S.C., G.C., R.d.S., E.M., N.F., L.F., G.N., L.A., A.L.F., M.P.), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome; and Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Anaesthesiology (S.M.), University of Messina, Italy.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Sara Carnicella
From Pediatric Neurology (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., G.C., L.A., A.L.F.), Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Child Health Area, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Centro Clinico Nemo (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., S.C., G.C., R.d.S., E.M., N.F., L.F., G.N., L.A., A.L.F., M.P.), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome; and Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Anaesthesiology (S.M.), University of Messina, Italy.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Giorgia Coratti
From Pediatric Neurology (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., G.C., L.A., A.L.F.), Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Child Health Area, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Centro Clinico Nemo (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., S.C., G.C., R.d.S., E.M., N.F., L.F., G.N., L.A., A.L.F., M.P.), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome; and Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Anaesthesiology (S.M.), University of Messina, Italy.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Roberto de Sanctis
From Pediatric Neurology (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., G.C., L.A., A.L.F.), Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Child Health Area, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Centro Clinico Nemo (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., S.C., G.C., R.d.S., E.M., N.F., L.F., G.N., L.A., A.L.F., M.P.), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome; and Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Anaesthesiology (S.M.), University of Messina, Italy.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Sonia Messina
From Pediatric Neurology (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., G.C., L.A., A.L.F.), Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Child Health Area, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Centro Clinico Nemo (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., S.C., G.C., R.d.S., E.M., N.F., L.F., G.N., L.A., A.L.F., M.P.), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome; and Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Anaesthesiology (S.M.), University of Messina, Italy.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Elena Mazzone
From Pediatric Neurology (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., G.C., L.A., A.L.F.), Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Child Health Area, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Centro Clinico Nemo (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., S.C., G.C., R.d.S., E.M., N.F., L.F., G.N., L.A., A.L.F., M.P.), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome; and Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Anaesthesiology (S.M.), University of Messina, Italy.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Nicola Forcina
From Pediatric Neurology (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., G.C., L.A., A.L.F.), Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Child Health Area, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Centro Clinico Nemo (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., S.C., G.C., R.d.S., E.M., N.F., L.F., G.N., L.A., A.L.F., M.P.), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome; and Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Anaesthesiology (S.M.), University of Messina, Italy.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Lavinia Fanelli
From Pediatric Neurology (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., G.C., L.A., A.L.F.), Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Child Health Area, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Centro Clinico Nemo (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., S.C., G.C., R.d.S., E.M., N.F., L.F., G.N., L.A., A.L.F., M.P.), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome; and Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Anaesthesiology (S.M.), University of Messina, Italy.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Giulia Norcia
From Pediatric Neurology (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., G.C., L.A., A.L.F.), Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Child Health Area, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Centro Clinico Nemo (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., S.C., G.C., R.d.S., E.M., N.F., L.F., G.N., L.A., A.L.F., M.P.), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome; and Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Anaesthesiology (S.M.), University of Messina, Italy.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Laura Antonaci
From Pediatric Neurology (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., G.C., L.A., A.L.F.), Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Child Health Area, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Centro Clinico Nemo (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., S.C., G.C., R.d.S., E.M., N.F., L.F., G.N., L.A., A.L.F., M.P.), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome; and Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Anaesthesiology (S.M.), University of Messina, Italy.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Anna Lia Frongia
From Pediatric Neurology (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., G.C., L.A., A.L.F.), Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Child Health Area, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Centro Clinico Nemo (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., S.C., G.C., R.d.S., E.M., N.F., L.F., G.N., L.A., A.L.F., M.P.), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome; and Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Anaesthesiology (S.M.), University of Messina, Italy.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Marika Pane
From Pediatric Neurology (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., G.C., L.A., A.L.F.), Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Child Health Area, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Centro Clinico Nemo (E.M., S.L., M.C.P., S.C., G.C., R.d.S., E.M., N.F., L.F., G.N., L.A., A.L.F., M.P.), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome; and Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Anaesthesiology (S.M.), University of Messina, Italy.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Full PDF
Short Form
Citation
Long-term progression in type II spinal muscular atrophy
A retrospective observational study
Eugenio Mercuri, Simona Lucibello, Maria Carmela Pera, Sara Carnicella, Giorgia Coratti, Roberto de Sanctis, Sonia Messina, Elena Mazzone, Nicola Forcina, Lavinia Fanelli, Giulia Norcia, Laura Antonaci, Anna Lia Frongia, Marika Pane
Neurology Sep 2019, 93 (13) e1241-e1247; DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000008166

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Permissions

Make Comment

See Comments

Downloads
553

Share

  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Disclosures
  • CME Course
Loading

This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.

Abstract

Objective To report the long-term progression in a cohort of patients with type II spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) assessed with the Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale–Expanded.

Methods Seventy-three patients (age 2.6–25 years) were included in the study. Twenty-eight of the 73 were first assessed before the age of 5 years and had been followed up for ≈5 years or longer. We observed an overall progression that was not linear. A piecewise regression analysis showed an improvement of scores in the younger patients with a point of slope change at ≈5 years of age, a decline between 5 and 13 years of age, and stability/slower decline after that.

Results Patients with the lowest scores at baseline had the earliest onset of scoliosis and a higher need for noninvasive ventilation compared to those with higher scores. Our results confirm that on the long-term follow-up all patients with type II SMA show a clear and progressive decline.

Conclusion The severity of functional impairment at baseline can help to predict the magnitude of changes over time and the overall progression, including onset of scoliosis and need for noninvasive ventilation.

Glossary

CHERISH=
A Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Nusinersen (ISIS 396443) in Participants With Later-Onset Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA);
HFMSE=
Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale–Expanded;
SMA=
spinal muscular atrophy

Footnotes

  • Go to Neurology.org/N for full disclosures. Funding information and disclosures deemed relevant by the authors, if any, are provided at the end of the article.

  • CME Course: NPub.org/cmelist

  • Received February 28, 2019.
  • Accepted in final form April 30, 2019.
  • © 2019 American Academy of Neurology
View Full Text

AAN Members

We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.

Google Safari Microsoft Edge Firefox

Click here to login

AAN Non-Member Subscribers

Click here to login

Purchase access

For assistance, please contact:
AAN Members (800) 879-1960 or (612) 928-6000 (International)
Non-AAN Member subscribers (800) 638-3030 or (301) 223-2300 option 3, select 1 (international)

Sign Up
Information on how to subscribe to Neurology and Neurology: Clinical Practice can be found here 

Purchase
Individual access to articles is available through the Add to Cart option on the article page.  Access for 1 day (from the computer you are currently using) is US$ 39.00.  Pay-per-view content is for the use of the payee only, and content may not be further distributed by print or electronic means.  The payee may view, download, and/or print the article for his/her personal, scholarly, research, and educational use.  Distributing copies (electronic or otherwise) of the article is not allowed.

Letters: Rapid online correspondence

No comments have been published for this article.
Comment

REQUIREMENTS

You must ensure that your Disclosures have been updated within the previous six months. Please go to our Submission Site to add or update your Disclosure information.

Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.

If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.

Submission specifications:

  • Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
  • Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
  • Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
  • Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
  • Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.

More guidelines and information on Disputes & Debates

Compose Comment

More information about text formats

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
Author Information
NOTE: The first author must also be the corresponding author of the comment.
First or given name, e.g. 'Peter'.
Your last, or family, name, e.g. 'MacMoody'.
Your email address, e.g. higgs-boson@gmail.com
Your role and/or occupation, e.g. 'Orthopedic Surgeon'.
Your organization or institution (if applicable), e.g. 'Royal Free Hospital'.
Publishing Agreement
NOTE: All authors, besides the first/corresponding author, must complete a separate Publishing Agreement Form and provide via email to the editorial office before comments can be posted.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Vertical Tabs

You May Also be Interested in

Back to top
  • Article
    • Abstract
    • Glossary
    • Methods
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • Study funding
    • Disclosure
    • Appendix Authors
    • Footnotes
    • References
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Disclosures
  • CME Course

More Online

CME Course

Effect of Atogepant for Preventive Migraine Treatment on Patient-Reported Outcomes in the Randomized, Double-blind, Phase 3 ADVANCE Trial

Dr. Jessica Ailani and Dr. Ailna Masters-Israilov

► Watch

Related Articles

  • What's happening in Neurology®

Topics Discussed

  • All Pediatric
  • All Spinal Cord
  • Anterior nerve cell disease
  • Cohort studies
  • Natural history studies (prognosis)

Alert Me

  • Alert me when eletters are published

Recommended articles

  • Article
    Muscle strength and motor function in adolescents and adults with spinal muscular atrophy
    Camiel A. Wijngaarde, Marloes Stam, Louise A.M. Otto et al.
    Neurology, July 30, 2020
  • Article
    Quantitative MR neurography biomarkers in 5q-linked spinal muscular atrophy
    Jennifer Kollmer, Tim Hilgenfeld, Andreas Ziegler et al.
    Neurology, July 10, 2019
  • Article
    Nusinersen in later-onset spinal muscular atrophy
    Long-term results from the phase 1/2 studies
    Basil T. Darras, Claudia A. Chiriboga, Susan T. Iannaccone et al.
    Neurology, April 24, 2019
  • Special Article
    Evidence in focus: Nusinersen use in spinal muscular atrophy
    Report of the Guideline Development, Dissemination, and Implementation Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology
    David Michelson, Emma Ciafaloni, Stephen Ashwal et al.
    Neurology, October 12, 2018
Neurology: 100 (24)

Articles

  • Ahead of Print
  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Popular Articles
  • Translations

About

  • About the Journals
  • Ethics Policies
  • Editors & Editorial Board
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Submit

  • Author Center
  • Submit a Manuscript
  • Information for Reviewers
  • AAN Guidelines
  • Permissions

Subscribers

  • Subscribe
  • Activate a Subscription
  • Sign up for eAlerts
  • RSS Feed
Site Logo
  • Visit neurology Template on Facebook
  • Follow neurology Template on Twitter
  • Visit Neurology on YouTube
  • Neurology
  • Neurology: Clinical Practice
  • Neurology: Education
  • Neurology: Genetics
  • Neurology: Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation
  • AAN.com
  • AANnews
  • Continuum
  • Brain & Life
  • Neurology Today

Wolters Kluwer Logo

Neurology | Print ISSN:0028-3878
Online ISSN:1526-632X

© 2023 American Academy of Neurology

  • Privacy Policy
  • Feedback
  • Advertise