Abbreviations: AAO = Age at Onest; SARA = Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia; N =Number; NA = not applicable; LMN = Left median nerve;RMN = Right median nerve; LSN = Left sural nerve; RSN = Right sural nerve.
Continuous data are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation.
a Independent t-tests
b Chi-square test
c Mann-Whitney U-test
Table 2. Percentages of PN findings, sensory disturbances, and subscale analysis results of the current perception threshold test in SCA3 patients
|
SCA3 (n = 94)
|
PN findings
|
PN
|
Normal
|
|
48 (51.1%)
|
46 (48.9%)
|
Sensory disturbance
|
Hypoesthesia
|
Hyperesthesia
|
|
41 (43.6%)
|
7 (7.4%)
|
Subscale results
|
Abnormal
|
Normal
|
Test sites
|
|
|
Median nerve
|
21 (22.3%)
|
73 (77.7%)
|
Left median nerve
|
13 (13.8%)
|
81 (86.2%)
|
Right median nerve
|
16 (17.0%)
|
78 (83.0%)
|
Sural nerve
|
42 (44.7%)
|
45 (55.3%)
|
Left sural nerve
|
28 (29.8%)
|
66 (70.2%)
|
Right sural nerve
|
28 (29.8%)
|
66 (70.2%)
|
Fiber types
|
|
|
Aβ
|
21 (22.3%)
|
73 (77.7%)
|
Aδ
|
33 (35.1%)
|
61 (64.9%)
|
C
|
24 (25.5%)
|
53 (74.5%)
|
Abbreviations: PN = Peripheral Neuropathy, Aβ =large-diameter myelinated, Aδ = small-diameter myelinated, C = unmyelinated fibers.
To consolidate the 12 CPT variables into comprehensive indicators while minimizing information loss, we conducted PCA with varimax rotation. We selected variables for PCA from the 12 total CPT variables based on the results obtained from all four sites at frequencies of 2000Hz, 250Hz, and 5Hz. We assessed the suitability of these variables for PCA using the linear correlation matrix (correlation coefficient > 0.3), the KMO measure of sampling adequacy (0.759), and Bartlett’s test of sphericity (P < 0.001), which confirmed the feasibility of PCA on the 12 CPT variables. Our PCA analysis revealed that the eigenvalues of the top four principal components were greater than 1, explaining 40.448%, 15.341%, 9.827%, and 8.657% of the total data variation, respectively. Together, these components accounted for 74.274% of the total variance. Examination of the component matrix indicated a strong correlation between PC1 and all 12 CPT variables. Considering the practical requirements of our study, we selected PC1 as the representative factor for all CPT variables. Furthermore, Mann-Whitney U-test demonstrated significant differences in PC1 factor scores between patients and controls (P < 0.001), consistent with the findings obtained from individual-dependent measures.
We utilized multivariable linear regression to explore the relationship between PC1 (representing all CPT variables) and clinical characteristics in patients. Initially, we examined the predictors of PC1 using regression models (Table 3). The results revealed that increasing AAO (β = 17.652, P = 0.01) and heightened severity of ataxia (β = 33.47, P = 0.011) were predictive of poorer CPT values. Conversely, disease duration (β = 38.193, P = 0.69) and longer lengths of CAG repeats in expanded alleles (β = 50.654, P = 0.96) did not significantly predict CPT values. Gender also emerged as a predictor, with males potentially at higher risk for poorer CPT values (β = 273.946, P = 0.017). Subsequently, we conducted multivariable linear regression to determine whether CPT values could influence the severity of ataxia (Table 4). Our findings indicated that CPT values (β = 0, P = 0.011) along with disease duration (β = 0.105, P = 0.000) could impact the severity of ataxia. However, AAO (β = 0.059, P = 0.439) and lengths of CAG repeats in expanded alleles (β = 0.161, P = 0.247) did not serve as significant predictors.
Table 3. Influencing factors on CPT values in SCA3 patients
|
Coefficient estimate
|
Standard error
|
P-value
|
CPT valuesa
|
|
|
|
Genderb
|
0.246
|
31.056
|
0.017
|
AAO
|
0.314
|
2.001
|
0.016
|
Disease duration
|
0.057
|
4.33
|
0.634
|
SARA
|
0.308
|
3.794
|
0.013
|
Normal alleles
|
0.04
|
2.282
|
0.697
|
Expanded alleles
|
-0.006
|
5.742
|
0.962
|
Abbreviations: AAO = Age at Onset; SARA = Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia.
Bold value showed significance.
aCPT values were measured by PC1.
bMale vs. Female.
Table 4. Influence of CPT values on disease severity in SCA3 patients
|
Coefficient estimate
|
Standard error
|
P-value
|
SARA
|
|
|
|
Gendera
|
-0.035
|
0.911
|
0.709
|
AAO
|
-0.084
|
0.059
|
0.472
|
Disease duration
|
0.492
|
0.105
|
0
|
Normal alleles
|
-0.108
|
0.064
|
0.234
|
Expanded alleles
|
0.133
|
0.161
|
0.235
|
CPT valuesb
|
0.242
|
0.003
|
0.013
|
Abbreviations: AAO = Age at Onset; SARA = Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia.
Bold value showed significance.
aMale vs. Female.
bCPT values were measured by PC1.