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Updated: Sep 25, 2025

Utility of Dissociated Intrinsic Hand Muscle Atrophy in the Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Published on: March 4, 2014
[Cramps and fasciculations: is it amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?]
Annemarie Hübers1, Damien Fayolle1, François Ochsner2
1Service de neurologie, Département des neurosciences cliniques, Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève, 1211 Genève 14.
Abstract:
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common motor neuron disease of the adult age. It is an aggressive condition with a mean disease duration of only 3 to 5 years, characterized by progressive weakness and atrophy of limb, bulbar, and respiratory muscles. In general, death is caused by chronic hypoventilation due to respiratory insufficiency. No causal treatment is known today, but the two therapeutic agents authorized in Switzerland for the treatment of ALS can slow disease progression significantly. Other important therapeutic strategies include invasive/non-invasive ventilation, pain therapy, as well as physio-, ergo- and speech therapy on a regular basis.
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