title: [Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: update on etiological treatment].
abstract: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a rare neurodegenerative disease. It is characterized by motoneurons progressive degeneration. Associated with a paralysis of the legs, arms and the respiratory muscles, its evolution is lethal. Riluzole is the only drug available with an marketing authorisation (autorisation de mise sur le marché [AMM]) in this indication. In the beginning stages of the disease it demonstrated a modest efficacy by prolonging survival for a few months. Although the physiopathological mechanisms of this disease have not been totally solved, the progression of knowledge in recent years in this area led to the development of a large number of neuroprotective agents which showed effective results in animal models of ALS and which could be good candidates for the treatment of ALS. Several clinical trials have been conducted about antiglutamatergic, antioxidant, antiapoptotic agents and growing cell factors but they failed to demonstrate efficacy on survival or quality of life. Therefore, clinical trials using innovative therapeutics and stem cells are ongoing and offer more distant hope.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacie à usage intérieur, Hôpital de la Timone, AP-HM, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ayach
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Curti
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montana
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pisano
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vanelle
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019782:Riluzole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013534:Survival
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D019782:Riluzole