Natural history of muscle cramps in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Muscle cramping is a common symptom in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that lacks efficacious treatment. The natural history of this symptom is unknown, which hampers efforts to design optimal clinical trials.

Methods

We surveyed early stage ALS patients about their experience with cramps each month by phone for up to 21 months.

Results

Cramps developed in 95% of patients over the course of their disease. The number of cramps experienced by an individual varied widely from month-to-month and trended lower after the first year of illness (P = 0.26). Those with limb-onset and age >60 years had more cramps than bulbar-onset (P < 0.0001) and younger patients (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

The high variability of the number of cramps experienced suggests

SUBMITTER: Caress JB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4775451 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature