Palliative care in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis.
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.
Elman
Lauren B
LB
ALS Association Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Houghton
David J
DJ
Wu
Gregory F
GF
Hurtig
Howard I
HI
Markowitz
Clyde E
CE
McCluskey
Leo
L
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