Motor neurone disease in the tropics: findings from Sudan

In this clinical study the presentation, electromyography and nerve conduction studies were described in different types of motor neurone disease in 28 Sudanese patients seen at El Shaab and Khartoum Teaching Hospitals. The three major clinical subtypes encountered were amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (n = 19), progressive bulbar palsy (n = 7) and progressive muscular atrophy (n = 2). Family history of the disease was found in four patients and those mainly presented with bulbar symptoms. Sudanese patients were found to have an earlier age of onset and a better prognosis of the disease than their caucasian counterparts.