Familial clustering of ALS in a population-based resource.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine the extent of an inherited contribution to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mortality.

Methods

Death certificates (DCs) from 1904 to 2009 were analyzed from patients with at least 3 generations recorded in the Utah Population Database, a genealogic and medical database of more than 2 million Utah residents. Among probands whose DCs listed ALS, the relative risk (RR) of death with ALS was determined among spouses and first- through fifth-degree relatives, using birth year-, sex-, and birthplace-matched cohorts.

Results

Eight hundred seventy-three patients with ALS met the inclusion criteria. Among 3,531 deceased first-degree relatives of probands, the RR of dying with ALS was increased compared with control cohorts (RR = 4.91, 95% confidence i

SUBMITTER: Gibson SB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3873619 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature