Table 1.
Patient clinical characteristics
|
Characteristics
|
Case 1
|
Case 2
|
Case 3
|
| Sex | F | F | M |
| Age at onset, yr | 65 | 71 | 54 |
| Duration of disease from onset, mo | 36 | 6 | 7 |
| Site of disease onset | LLL | RLL | LLL |
| Evolution of symptoms | LLL-LUL-RLL | RLL-RUL-LLL-LUL-bulbar symptoms | LLL-LUL-RLL-RUL-bulbar symptoms |
| Bulbar symptoms | None | Yes | Yes |
| Sensory symptoms | None | None | None |
| Tone | Hypertonia in left side | Hypertonia in right side | Hypertonia in left side |
| Power (MRC grade) | Left side (grade 3/5) | Right side (grade 4/5) | LLL (grade 1/5); LUL (grade 4/5) |
| Reflexes | Hyperreflexia in left side | Hyperreflexia in all limbs right ankle clonus | Hyperreflexia in left side, left ankle clonus |
| Babinski’s sign | Negative | Positive in right side | Negative |
| Laboratory test | Normal | Normal | Normal |
| EMG | Increased polyphonic motor unit potentials | Unremarkable | Minor chronic denervation |
| Follow-up | Mobility with the help of a cane | Died from respiratory failure 32 mo after the onset of symptoms | Died from respiratory failure 44 mo after the onset of symptoms |
F: Female; M: Male; RUL: Right upper limb; RLL: Right lower limb; LUL: Left upper limb; LLL: Left lower limb; EMG: Electromyography; MRC: Medical Research Council.