ALS Flashcards
what does ALS stand for
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
what is ALS
rare progressive neuro disorder characterized by the loss of motor neurons (upper and lower neurons)
when does death typically occur for someone with ALS
about 3 years after diagnosis due to resp failure
what causes ALS
unknown
what are the risk factors for ALS
40-70
male
genetics
smoking
what is the patho of ALS
motor neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord gradually degenerate so..
- axonal degeneration
- demyelination
- sclerosis
chemical messages from the brain do not reach the muscle
what is the hypothesis behind ALS
excitotoxicity hypothesis
- excessive levels of glutamate initiate a cascade of events that lead to neuron death
what is glutamate
excitatory NT
why is glutamate thought to be a thing in ALS
there are elevated levels of glutamate in pts with ALS so we used drugs that dec it
what are the clinical manifestations of ALS
- weakness of upper extremities
- muscle wasting
- spasticity
- dysarthria, dysphagia, drooling
- constipation
- cognitive and behavioral changes
- sleeping problems
- breathing
what is the class of riluzole
glutamate inhibitor
what is the moa of riluzole
glutamate antagonist
reduces damage to motor neurons
what are the side effects of riluzole
dizziness
GI upset
hepatotoxicity
can riluzole inc life expectancy
yes about 3-6 months
