Skip to main content
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1990 Dec;53(12):1043–1045. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.53.12.1043

Clinical features and associations of 560 cases of motor neuron disease.

T M Li 1, E Alberman 1, M Swash 1
PMCID: PMC488311  PMID: 2292694

Abstract

In 560 cases of motor neuron disease, studied retrospectively from their case notes in three teaching centres, the age at onset ranged from 13 to 87 years (mean 56 years), and the mean duration of illness until death was 2.6 years. In the subgroup of the disease presenting with progressive bulbar palsy presenting after age 59 years, there was a previously unrecognised excess of females sufficient to equalize the sex ratio of incidence of the disease in this age group. No potentially causative clinical associations emerged; no relation was noted between occupational exposure to leather products, trauma or surgical procedures and the disease. There was a trend for patients with motor neuron disease to give a history of abstention from alcohol.

Full text

PDF
1043

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. ASK-UPMARK E. Precipitating factors in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Acta Med Scand. 1961 Dec;170:717–723. doi: 10.1111/j.0954-6820.1961.tb00290.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. David P., Lo Monaco M., Palieri G., Scoppetta C., Servidei S., Tonali P., Vaccario M. L. Clinical features of amyotrophic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ital J Neurol Sci. 1981 May;2(2):113–117. doi: 10.1007/BF02335430. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Godwin-Austen R. B., Lee P. N., Marmot M. G., Stern G. M. Smoking and Parkinson's disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1982 Jul;45(7):577–581. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.45.7.577. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Gubbay S. S., Kahana E., Zilber N., Cooper G., Pintov S., Leibowitz Y. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A study of its presentation and prognosis. J Neurol. 1985;232(5):295–300. doi: 10.1007/BF00313868. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. HULCHER F., SPUDIS E. V., NETSKY M. G. Encephalomyelitis induced by a white matter fraction. Arch Neurol. 1963 Jan;8:1–7. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1963.00460010017001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Hawkes C. H., Fox A. J. Motor neurone disease in leather workers. Lancet. 1981 Feb 28;1(8218):507–507. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(81)91900-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Jokelainen M. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Finland. I: An epidemiologic study. Acta Neurol Scand. 1977 Sep;56(3):185–193. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1977.tb01424.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. KURLAND L. T. Epidemiologic investigations of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. III. A genetic interpretation of incidence and geographic distribution. Proc Staff Meet Mayo Clin. 1957 Aug 21;32(17):449–462. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Kessler I. I., Diamond E. L. Epidemiologic studies of Parkinson's disease. I. Smoking and Parkinson's disease: a survey and explanatory hypothesis. Am J Epidemiol. 1971 Jul;94(1):16–25. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a121289. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Koch M. J., Hoffman P., Brody J. A., Edgar A. H. Neurologic disorders following surgery for peptic ulcer disease. Arch Neurol. 1975 Mar;32(3):206–207. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1975.00490450086013. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Kondo K., Tsubaki T. Case-control studies of motor neuron disease: association with mechanical injuries. Arch Neurol. 1981 Apr;38(4):220–226. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1981.00510040046007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Kurtzke J. F., Beebe G. W. Epidemiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: 1. A case-control comparison based on ALS deaths. Neurology. 1980 May;30(5):453–462. doi: 10.1212/wnl.30.5.453. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Li T. M., Day S. J., Alberman E., Swash M. Differential diagnosis of motoneurone disease from other neurological conditions. Lancet. 1986 Sep 27;2(8509):731–733. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. MULLER R. Progressive motor neuron disease in adults; a clinical study with special reference to the course of the disease. Acta Psychiatr Neurol Scand. 1952;27(1-2):137–156. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1952.tb04647.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Martyn C. N., Barker D. J., Osmond C. Motoneuron disease and past poliomyelitis in England and Wales. Lancet. 1988 Jun 11;1(8598):1319–1322. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(88)92129-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Mortara P., Bardelli D., Leone M., Schiffer D. Prognosis and clinical varieties of ALS disease. Ital J Neurol Sci. 1981 Aug;2(3):237–242. doi: 10.1007/BF02335403. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Müller-Jensen A., Bernhardt W. Unsere Erfahrungen bei der myatrophischen Lateralsklerose. Nervenarzt. 1973 Mar;44(3):143–149. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Rai B., Jolly S. S. Motor neurone disease: a clinical study. J Indian Med Assoc. 1971 Nov 1;57(9):315–318. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Rosen A. D. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clinical features and prognosis. Arch Neurol. 1978 Oct;35(10):638–642. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1978.00500340014003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES