title: [Possible etiological role retroviruses and enteroviruses in the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis].
abstract: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with unknown pathogenesis. Loss of motor neurons leads to progressive weakness and, finally, respiratory failure with a mean survival of 3 years. A possible causal role of a retroviral infection has recently been suggested by studies of 7 HIV-infected patients who developed a rapid progressive ALS-like disorder as the first manifestation of their HIV-infection. All patients stabilised or improved with antiretroviral therapy. Other research groups have published on the detection of enterovirus RNA in the spinal cords of ALS-patients, also suggesting a viral aetiology of the disease. The results of these neuro-virological studies warrant further research into the possible role of viral infections as a cause of ALS, as well as clinical trials with anti-retroviral and anti-enteroviral drugs in ALS.
authors.affiliation: Academisch Medisch Centrum, afd. Neurologie, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam. p.portegies@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Portegies
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D004769:Enterovirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents