Open AccessManagement of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Author(s) -
Andrea Calvo,
Paolo Ghiglione,
Adriano Chiò
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
clinical management issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2283-3137
pISSN - 1973-4832
DOI - 10.7175/cmi.v2i3.567
Subject(s) - medicine , amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , pulmonologist , sialorrhea , quality of life (healthcare) , anxiety , depression (economics) , spasticity , disease , rehabilitation , physical therapy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , psychiatry , intensive care medicine , pathology , surgery , nursing , economics , macroeconomics
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal, neurodegenerative disease caused by the degeneration of motor neurons. We report a case of a 45-years-old patient with ALS to underline difficulties and challenges in ALS management. Even though ALS remains fatal, several advances have been made in improving the consequences of this disease: symptomatic treatments have an important role in controlling sialorrhea, bronchial secretions, pseudobulbar emotional lability, cramps, spasticity, depression and anxiety, insomnia and pain. An adequate management of ALS should be multidisciplinar, involving not only the neurologist, but also family physicians and many other specialists, such as pulmonologist, rehabilitation medicine physician, speech therapist, dietitian and psychologist. The multidisciplinary approach should be aimed at relieving specific problems associated with the disability of single patients and improving their quality of life