Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with sensory neuropathy: part of a multisystem disorder?

Sensory involvement is thought not to be a feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, in the setting of a specialist motor neuron disease clinic, we have identified five patients with sporadic ALS and a sensory neuropathy for which an alternative cause could not be identified. In three...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry neurosurgery and psychiatry, 2007-07, Vol.78 (7), p.750-753
Main Authors: Isaacs, Jeremy D, Dean, Andrew F, Shaw, Christopher E, Al-Chalabi, Ammar, Mills, Kerry R, Leigh, P Nigel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Action Potentials
Aged
ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - complications
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - physiopathology
Biological and medical sciences
Biopsy
Cranial nerves. Spinal roots. Peripheral nerves. Autonomic nervous system. Gustation. Olfaction
Glucose
Humans
Immunoglobulins
Laboratories
Legs
Male
Medical sciences
MGUS
Middle Aged
monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance
Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis
Mutation
Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes)
Neurology
Neurons, Afferent - pathology
Patients
Proteins
Rodents
SAP
Sensation Disorders - etiology
sensory action potential
Short Report
Studies
Ventilation
Vitamin B
Citations: Items that cite this one
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Description
Summary:Sensory involvement is thought not to be a feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, in the setting of a specialist motor neuron disease clinic, we have identified five patients with sporadic ALS and a sensory neuropathy for which an alternative cause could not be identified. In three individuals, sensory nerve biopsy was performed, demonstrating axonal loss without features of an alternative aetiology. These findings support the hypothesis that ALS is a multisystem neurodegenerative disorder that may occasionally include sensory neuropathy among its non-motor features.
ISSN:0022-3050
1468-330X
DOI:10.1136/jnnp.2006.098798