title: Palliative care in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, atypical parkinsonian syndromes, and multiple sclerosis are progressive neurologic disorders that cumulatively afflict a large number of people. Effective end-of-life palliative care depends upon an understanding of the clinical aspects of each of these disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The authors review the unique and overlapping aspects of each of these disorders with an emphasis upon the clinical management of symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors review current management and the supporting literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians have many effective therapeutic options to choose from when managing the symptoms produced by these disorders.
authors.affiliation: ALS Association Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Elman
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Houghton
authors.forename: Gregory F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Howard I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Hurtig
authors.forename: Clyde E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Markowitz
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McCluskey
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D013727:Terminal Care