Epidemiological and clinical factors impact on the benefit of riluzole in the survival rates of patients with ALS

Abstract

Objective To investigate the impact of epidemiological and clinical factors on the benefit of riluzole in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods The survival rate of 578 patients with ALS (1999-2011) was analyzed by descriptive statistics and Kaplan-Meier curves. Considering the median of the sample survival time (19 months), patients were divided in two groups: below (B19) and above the median (A19). Kaplan-Meier curves compared the survival rates of patients treated with riluzole and with patients who did not take the medication. Results Riluzole increased the survival rates of patients with lower limb onset who were diagnosed after the first appointment in B19. Patients with bulbar onset and diagnosed on the first, or after the first appointment showed higher survival rates in A19. Males lived longer than females in both groups. Conclusion Epidemiological and clinical factors influenced the benefit of riluzole in the survival rates of patients with ALS.

Existential transformations in the process of facing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis by the family caregiver

“…Current public policies tend to transfer the care of ALS patients to outpatient and home care, with a view to reducing expendable interventions, as well as the hospital costs resulting from long hospitalizations and more invasive interventions performed in a hospital environment. In this context, the family may suffer from the diagnosis and evolution of the clinical manifestation of the disease, which encompasses everything that permeates the experience of this progressive and degenerative disease (13) . Given the burden that is placed on the caregiver, there is a negative impact affecting their mental and physical health, due to the scenario that is configured of caregivers, humans, vulnerable struggling day after day to maintain control of all aspects that permeate the lived (14) .…”

Teaching An Old Drug New Tricks: Repositioning Strategies for Spinal Muscular atrophy

“…One plausible repositioning strategy may be through identifying drugs that are currently used to treat other motor neuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Indeed, the ALS drug riluzole (Rilutek™ or Teglutik™), a pharmacological compound thought to promote neuroprotection through Ca 2+ -activated K + channel-mediated glutamate reduction, has already been evaluated in clinical trials for SMA, albeit with limited success in improving survival rates (ClinicalTrials.Gov ID: NCT00774423) [34][35][36][37][38].…”

The Cellular and Molecular Signature of ALS in Muscle

“…The term Motor Neuron Disease (MND) encompasses several phenotypes, with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) being the most common [1,2]. ALS is a heterogenous, late-onset and rapidly progressive disease characterized by the gradual loss and degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons and with a life expectancy of 2-5 years following diagnosis [1,3]. Patients can either present with lower motor neuron symptoms: denervation, muscle atrophy, fasciculations and cramping or with upper motor neuron symptoms characterized by spasticity, poor coordination, hypotonia and hyperreflexia [4][5][6].…”