Wiley-Blackwell Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Diagnosis and Management for the Clinician

This book, written by acknowledged experts in their fields, lays out the important aspects of diagnosis and management which are essential for the physician and healthcare worker dealing with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Part 1 stresses the importance of diagnosis of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig′s disease or motor neuron disease. Typical and atypical presentations are described, with hints on optomising the clinical and electrodiagnostic evaluation. The authors present a classification of the adult–onset diseases that may mimic ALS with an organised approach to differnet diagnosis of ALS. Our current knowledge regarding various theories of motor neuron death (e.g. glutamate toxicity, free radical toxicity etc.) and the neurogentics of familial ALS is clearly summarised. Part 2 contains chapters covering all aspects of ALS patient management. Comprehensive medical treatment of the ALS patient is detailed, including the recently FDA approved drug, riluzole. New and pertinent topics included home and hospice care, nutritional needs, non–invasive ventilation, ethical issues such as the termination of life support, an organised approach to rehabilitation management, participation in drugs trials, and on–line computer services for communication among patients.