title: Drug therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Where are we now?
abstract: In the 60 years since Lou Gehrig died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) there have been numerous advances in our understanding of this disease. However, scant progress has been made regarding disease-altering treatments. Today most physicians still recommend vitamin E, which is the treatment Gehrig himself received. In this paper we will review what is currently known about the pathophysiology of ALS as well as the history of clinical trials in ALS. We indicate current and future directions in research and clinical trials, and also argue that a logical next step for clinical trials in ALS should be combination drug treatment.
authors.affiliation: Muscular Dystrophy Association Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. gtcarter@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Gregory T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Lisa S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Krivickas
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weydt
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003401:Creatine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019782:Riluzole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D019782:Riluzole; D003401:Creatine