title: [Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis].
abstract: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal illness characterized by upper and lower motor neuron degeneration of adults. Recently, many advances are being made in our understanding of the pathogenesis of ALS, which are the role of autoimmunity, the glutamate excitotoxicity, the neurotrophic factor and the defined mutation of superoxide dismutase in familial ALS cases. The therapeutic trials have been carried out more commonly based on the putative pathogenesis described. Among them, riluzole, antiglutamate agent, is proved to have the survival advantage in a controlled double-blind randomized study. These current putative pathogenesis and therapeutic trials of ALS are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moriwaka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017354:Point Mutation; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D019782:Riluzole; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013912:Threonine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D013844:Thiazoles; D013912:Threonine; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D019782:Riluzole; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase