[The etiopathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis--recent development]

In spite of extensive studies of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for the past decades, its cause still remains obscure. Based on the clinicopathological observations and experimental studies of sporadic and endemic ALS cases, etiologic hypothesis encompass a wide range of postulated pathophysiological mechanisms in the various fields. Reviewing briefly these, recent concern on genetic hypothesis, of familial ALS, background of case aggregation in the Western Pacific and immune hypothesis has been discussed. Although there is no unifying theory explanatory for ALS process at present, accumulated results through basic and clinical neurological science may provide a better understanding for the pathogenesis of ALS.