title: The diagnosis of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2010.
abstract: The diagnosis of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains in 2010 clinical with neurophysiological support in absence of specific biomarker(s). The disease is diverse in its presentation, cause, and progression. Treatable mimic syndromes must be excluded before the diagnosis is ascribed: ALS and its variants are recognized by neurologists, but 10% of patients are misdiagnosed. Delays in diagnosis are common. Less than 10% of cases are familial and associated with several interactive genes. The onset of ALS predates development of the clinical symptoms by an unknown interval which may extend several years. Prompt diagnosis, sensitive communication of the diagnosis, the involvement of the patient and family, a positive care plan are pre-requisites for the good clinical management of ALS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, "Dino Ferrari" Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. vincenzo@silani.com
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Silani
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Poletti
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doretti
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ticozzi
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maderna
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D015415:Biomarkers; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D025801:Ubiquitin