title: Current pharmacological management of amyotrophic [corrected] lateral sclerosis and a role for rational polypharmacy.
abstract: Amyotrophic [corrected] lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive degenerative condition of motor neurons that is ultimately fatal. Even though scientific discovery over the past few decades has led to a greater understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of ALS, effective pharmacotherapy intended to slow, arrest or reverse the disease progression remains difficult to obtain. Riluzole, a drug that has only modest benefit in extending survival, is still the only medication approved by the FDA for the treatment of ALS. However, a number of pharmacological agents are currently being investigated as potential therapy for ALS. This paper will review the pathophysiology of ALS and current pharmacological management of the disease and recent directions in research and clinical trials. Based on the available data, it is our opinion that combination drug therapies should be considered for future clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. mdweisser@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weydt
authors.forename: Gregory T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Carter
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019338:Polypharmacy
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors