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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

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Neuromuscular Disorders in Clinical Practice

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease or Charcot’s disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects motor neurons. In this chapter, we outline the epidemiology of ALS followed by a brief overview of the anatomic pathways involved in the disease and a subsequent description of the clinical features. Both the pathology and a diagnostic algorithm are discussed in terms of the currently accepted criteria followed by a discussion on the differential diagnosis. The main theories of pathogenesis are covered to better understand the basis for both the approved and experimental treatment options that are currently available.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

    Roisin Lonergan MB, BCh, BAOMRCPI

  2. Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, 710 West 168th Street, NI-9, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Hiroshi Mistumoto MD, DSc

  3. Department of Neurology, Hermitage Medical Clinic, Dublin, Ireland

    Brian Murray MB, BCh, BAO, MSc

  4. Dublin Neurological Institute, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

    Brian Murray MB, BCh, BAO, MSc

Authors
  1. Roisin Lonergan MB, BCh, BAOMRCPI
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  2. Hiroshi Mistumoto MD, DSc
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  3. Brian Murray MB, BCh, BAO, MSc
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Correspondence to Hiroshi Mistumoto MD, DSc .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Bashar Katirji

  2. Department of Neurology, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henry J. Kaminski

  3. University School of Medicine Department of Neurology, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center Case Western Reserve, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Robert L. Ruff

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Lonergan, R., Mistumoto, H., Murray, B. (2014). Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. In: Katirji, B., Kaminski, H., Ruff, R. (eds) Neuromuscular Disorders in Clinical Practice. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6567-6_20

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