Table 1.
Clinical features of ALS and non-ALS patients at baseline
| Total n = 102 |
ALS n = 71 |
Non-ALS mimics n = 31 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Demographic features | |||
| Sex, male | 73 (71.6%) | 49 (69%) | 24 (77.4%) |
| Age of onset, years | 52 (42–63) | 53 (43–65) | 51 (37–63) |
| Age at biopsy, years | 59 (44–67) | 59 (46–66) | 57 (39–69) |
| Disease duration at biopsy, months | 28 (13–51) | 25 (12–45) | 35 (17–88) |
| Clinical findings | |||
| Upper motor neuron score | 0 (0–3) | 1 (0–3) | 0 (0–0) |
| Sensory symptoms/signs | 36 (35.3%) | 18 (25.4%) | 18 (58.1%) |
| Diagnostic work-up | |||
| Abnormal CSF analysis | 15/61 (24.6%) | 10/39 (25.6%) | 5/22 (22.7%) |
| Anti-GM1 IgM antibody | 4/79 (5.3%) | 2/51 (3.9%) | 2/24 (8.3%) |
| Revised El Escorial Criteria | |||
| Possible ALS | 3 (2.9%) | 3 (4.2%) | 0 |
| Probable laboratory-supported ALS | 5 (4.9%) | 5 (7%) | 0 |
Data are presented as n (% of the total column unless specified) or median (IQR). Abnormal CFS albumino-cytological dissociation (protein level >60 mg/ml, cell count <5) in 11/15 cases; raised protein level together with cell count in 4/15.