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The diagnostic interval in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Yasuo Iwasaki1, Ken Ikeda, Yasumitsu Ichikawa
1The Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Toho University Ohashi Hospital, 2-17-6 Ohashi Meguro-ku Tokyo 153-8515, Japan.
Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery
|April 5, 2002
Summary
The time to diagnose Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is shorter for patients with bulbar-onset symptoms compared to limb-onset. This study identified symptom onset type as a key factor influencing ALS diagnostic timelines.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis involves a significant delay from symptom onset.
- Understanding factors influencing this diagnostic delay is crucial for timely intervention.
- Previous studies highlight variability in diagnostic timelines but lack detailed analysis of onset type.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate parameters influencing the time between symptom onset and diagnosis confirmation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
- To compare diagnostic timelines based on symptom presentation (bulbar vs. limb onset) and patient demographics.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 117 patients diagnosed with ALS.
- Data collected included patient demographics, symptom onset type (bulbar or limb), and time from symptom onset to diagnosis.
- Statistical comparison of diagnostic times between patient groups.
Main Results:
- Bulbar-onset ALS patients were diagnosed at a slightly older age (mean 57 years for males, 59 for females) than limb-onset patients.
- Bulbar-onset was more frequent in females (33:19), while limb-onset was more frequent in males (43:22).
- Time to diagnosis confirmation was significantly shorter for bulbar-onset (9.8-10.5 months) compared to limb-onset (13.7-14.8 months).
Conclusions:
- Symptom onset type is a significant parameter influencing the diagnostic delay in ALS.
- Bulbar-onset ALS, more common in women, has a shorter diagnostic timeline.
- Limb-onset ALS, more common in men, shows a longer diagnostic timeline, necessitating further investigation into diagnostic pathways.