Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: considerations on diagnostic criteria

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder, compromising the motor neuron, characterized by progressive muscle weakness, with reserved prognosis. The diagnosis is based on inclusion and exclusion clinical criteria, since there is no specific confirmation test. The objective...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria 2010-12, Vol.68 (6), p.837-842
Main Authors: Chieia, Marco A, Oliveira, Acary S B, Silva, Helga C A, Gabbai, Alberto Alain
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - diagnosis
diagnóstico correto
El Escorial revisited
Electromyography
esclerose lateral amiotrófica
False Negative Reactions
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neurologic Examination
NEUROSCIENCES
PSYCHIATRY
Young Adult
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder, compromising the motor neuron, characterized by progressive muscle weakness, with reserved prognosis. The diagnosis is based on inclusion and exclusion clinical criteria, since there is no specific confirmation test. The objective of this research is to critically examine the main diagnosis instrument - El Escorial revisited, from the World Federation of Neurology (1998). Of the 540 patients with initial ALS diagnosis, either probable or definite, seen at UNIFESP-EPM, 190 underwent thorough investigation, following regular clinical and therapeutic treatment for over two years. Thirty patients (15.78%) had their diagnosis completely changed. The false-positive diagnoses were related to: early age, clinical presentation of symmetry, weakness greater than atrophy, symptomatic exacerbation. In addition, three patients with myasthenia gravis developed framework for ALS, suggesting the post-synaptic disability as a sign of early disease.
ISSN:0004-282X
1678-4227
1678-4227
0004-282X
DOI:10.1590/s0004-282x2010000600002