Awaji criteria for the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis:a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the potential diagnostic added value of the Awaji criteria for diagnosis of a myotrophiclateral sclerosis (ALS), which have been compared with the previously accepted gold standard the revised El Escorial criteria in several studies.


METHODS
MEDLINE and Web of Science (until October2011).


METHODS
We searched for studies testing the diagnostic accuracy of the Awaji criteria vs the revised El Escorial criteria in patients referred with suspected ALS.


METHODS
Evaluation and data extraction of identified studies were done independently. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies list was used to assess study quality. We determined the proportion of patients classified as having probable/definite ALS and derived indices of diagnostic performance(sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio). Quantitative data synthesis was accomplished through random-effects meta-analysis, and heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 test.


RESULTS
Eight studies were included (3 prospective and 5 retrospective) enrolling 1187 patients. Application of Awaji criteria led to a 23% (95% CI, 12% to 33%; I2=84%) increase in the proportion of patients classified as having probable/definite ALS. Diagnostic performance of the Awaji criteria was higher than the revised El Escorial criteria (pooled sensitivity: 81.1% [95%CI, 72.2% to 90.0%; I2=91%] vs 62.2% [95% CI, 49.4%to 75.1%; I2=93%]; pooled diagnostic odds ratio, 35.8[95% CI, 15.2 to 84.7; I2=3%] vs 8.7 [95% CI, 2.2 to 35.6;I2=50%]). Diagnostic accuracy of Awaji criteria was higher in bulbar- than in limb-onset cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The Awaji criteria have a significant clinical impact allowing earlier diagnosis and clinical trial entry in ALS.
Neuromuscular Unit, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1649028 Lisbon, Portugal. joaoncosta@sapo.pt
João
J
Costa
Michael
M
Swash
Mamede
M
de Carvalho
D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity