Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Ultrasound Comparison With Load Evaluation

Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is one of the most common hereditary neuromuscular disorders (NMD), with an estimated prevalence of 2000 patients in the Netherlands. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and muscle ultrasound have contributed to an enhanced understanding of the pathophysiology of Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD). Previously, our group demonstrated the potential presence of an intermediate factor between muscle fiber loss and clinical weakness in FSHD. The influence of disrupted muscle architecture in FSHD on muscle contractile efficiency is a likely candidate for this factor, and remains relatively unexplored. In this study, we aim to assess the use of ultrasound-defined contractile performance, in comparison with current measures including structural MRI, for monitoring disease progression in FSHD.