LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE
What is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis?
ALS is a progressive, fatal neurological disease affecting as many as 20,000 Americans with 5,000 new cases occurring in the United States each year. The disorder belongs to a class of disorders known as motor neuron diseases. ALS occurs when specific nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary movement gradually degenerate. The loss of these motor neurons causes the muscles under their control to weaken and waste away, leading to paralysis. ALS manifests itself in different ways, depending on which muscles weaken first.
What are the Symptoms of ALS?
Symptoms may include:
- Tripping and falling
- Loss of motor control
in hands and arms
- Difficulty speaking
- Dificulty swallowing and/or breathing
- Persistent fatigue
- Twitching and cramping, sometimes quite
severely
What is the Treatment for Lou Gehrig's Disease?
No cure has yet been found for ALS. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first drug treatment for the disease-riluzole (Rilutek). Riluzole is believed to reduce damage to motor neurons by decreasing the release of glutamate. Clinical trials with ALS patients showed that riluzole prolongs survival by several months, mainly in those with difficulty swallowing. The drug also extends the time before a patient needs ventilation support. Riluzole does not reverse the damage already done to motor neurons, and patients taking the drug must be monitored for liver damage and other possible side effects. However, this first disease-specific therapy offers hope that the progression of ALS may one day be slowed by new medications or combinations of drugs.
What is the Prognosis?
ALS is usually fatal within five years after diagnosis.» top