Role of Neuromuscular Junction Function in Motor Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis

This pilot study will evaluate for the presence of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) defect in women with motor fatigue in multiple sclerosis by Single Fiber Electromyography (SFEMG) using the concentric needle electrode.

The investigators will recruit 20 women with multiple sclerosis (MS) and fatigue and 10 normal controls with no identified causes of fatigue (no history of thyroid disease, anemia, liver disease, kidney disease, myasthenia gravis, and no major fatigue inducing medications). We will include MS patients with fatigue severity scale of ≥5. Patients with sleep disorders or significant depression will be excluded based on history, Epworth Sleepiness scale, and Beck's Inventory of Depression Scale. The study will include two clinic visits and a one-study visit. After informed consent is obtained (English and Spanish forms will be available), the following will be done during the study visit 1:

* Neurological examination: Using handgrip dynamometer of the dominant hand.

  * Maximum voluntary isometric contraction force (MVIC) of the handgrip; two contractions of as long as 5 seconds each.
  * Single 30 seconds sustained maximal contraction of the handgrip to assess static fatigue.
  * Series of brief maximal contraction over 30 seconds, Contractions will be timed at one contraction per second.
* Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS
* Fatigue severity scale (FSS) and modified fatigue impact scale (MFIS)
* Epworth Sleepiness scale for screening for sleep disorders.
* Beck's Inventory of Depression Scale for screening for depression. Clinic visit 2: The clinic visit 2 will be conducted 5-30 days after the clinic visit 1
* Neurological examination: Using handgrip dynamometer of the dominant hand.

  * Maximum voluntary isometric contraction force (MVIC) of the handgrip; two contractions of as long as 5 seconds each.
  * Single 30 seconds sustained maximal contraction of the handgrip to assess static fatigue.
  * Series of brief maximal contraction over 30 seconds, Contractions will be timed at one per second.
* Fatigue severity scale (FSS) and modified fatigue impact scale (MFIS)

Study Visit 3:

Electromyography (EMG) and SFEMG (Single Fiber Electromyography) of the extensor digitorum communis muscle (forearm muscle) will be performed on all women with fatigue and healthy controls at the TTUHSC electrophysiology lab to evaluate for NMJ abnormalities. The mean consecutive difference (MCD) of 20 pairs of single muscle fiber potentials will be collected using SFEMG from each of the 20 women with multiple sclerosis and fatigue and will be compared to MCD of 200 pair potentials from our recruited 10 normal control subjects and also to the previously published normative data.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria for MS Group (20 women)

1. Patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.
2. Age 18 to 65 years
3. Diagnosed with motor fatigue in multiple sclerosis \> 6 weeks. Motor fatigue equates to muscle fatigue due to physical exertion and is alleviated with rest and associated with fatigability.
4. Has a fatigue severity scale score (FSS) of ≥5.
5. Ambulatory with Expanded Disability Status Scale score (EDSS) 1.5 -6.5.

Inclusion Criteria for Control Group (10 women)

1. Female with no history of multiple sclerosis and no complaint of fatigue
2. Age 18 to 65 years

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with MS exacerbation or corticosteroid treatment within one month before the study.
2. Patients with history or current diagnosis of:

   * Untreated thyroid disease,
   * Untreated vitamin D deficiency,
   * pregnancy,
   * taking over the counter energy booster in the last 1 week,
   * taking medication that will improve the function of the neuromuscular junction (i.e. pyridostigmine, steroid, rituximab, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine),
   * myasthenia gravis,
   * symptoms or history of polyneuropathy involving the upper extremities,
   * myopathy,
   * symptoms or history suggestive of C7, C 8 radiculopathy,
   * motor neuron disease,
   * polio,
   * chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy,
   * Guillain-Barre syndrome,
   * radial nerve palsy,
   * sleep disorders (Epworth Sleepiness scale\> 10 ), or
   * significant depression ( Beck's Inventory of Depression Scale \>17)
3. Taking major fatigue inducing medications. (e.g. Narcotics, and Sedatives)
4. Taking anticoagulation therapy. (e.g. warfarin and heparin)