High plasma concentrations of organic pollutants negatively impact survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine whether persistent organic pollutants (POP) affect amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) survival.

Methods

ALS participants seen at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI, USA) provided plasma samples for measurement of POPs. ALS disease and clinical features were collected prospectively from the medical records. Survival models used a composite summary measure of exposure due to multiple POPs (environmental risk score or ERS).

Results

167 participants (40.7% female, n=68) with ALS were recruited, of which 119 died during the study period. Median diagnostic age was 60.9 years (IQR 52.7-68.2), median time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 1.01 years (IQR 0.67-1.67), bulbar onset 28.7%, cervical onset 33.5% and lumbar onset 37.7%. Participants

SUBMITTER: Goutman SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6625908 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature