title: Consensus guidelines for the design and implementation of clinical trials in ALS. World Federation of Neurology committee on Research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 1994 consensus guidelines were developed for conducting clinical trials in ALS. With growing experience in clinical trials, it has become clear that a number of further guidelines were needed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Under the auspices of the World Federation of Neurology Committee on Research, a multinational group of neurologists, statisticians, patient advocates, representatives from the pharmaceutical industry as well as regulatory agencies developed consensus about a number of revisions to the existing guidelines during a 2 day conference in April 1998.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expanded areas of focus include greater protection of patient rights, more detailed guidelines for outcome measures statistical analyses, disclosure of study results and improved interaction between investigators and the corporate sector.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Substantial progress has been made in standardizing and improving the quality of clinical trials in ALS through these consensus guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Chairman Clinical Trials Consortium for the Research Group on Motor Neuron Diseases, World Federation of Neurology, Forbes Norris MDA/ALS Center, Department of Neurology, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco 94115, USA. rmiller@cooper.cpmc.org
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Munsat
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Swash
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Brooks
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life