title: Symptomatic care of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abstract: Until a definitive treatment is found for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, there will continue to be a need to provide symptomatic care. Experience with caring for a large number of patients has proved that symptomatic therapy can be based on rational principles. Treatment should be limited to procedures that are simple and low-cost, with low risk of serious morbidity. When all remedies fail, the physician can still provide a comforting presence and foster a dignified death.
mesh_terms: D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D001044:Aphonia / Q000628:therapy; D001915:Braces; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000601:surgery; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004947:Esophagus / Q000601:surgery; D006146:Guanidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009120:Muscle Cramp / Q000188:drug therapy; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010166:Palliative Care; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012466:Salivary Gland Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D013727:Terminal Care; D014853:Walkers
chemical_list: D006146:Guanidines; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D000639:Amitriptyline; D004492:Edetic Acid