TY  - JOUR
T1  - TReatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
AU  - Dorman JD
Y1  - 1969/07/07
N1  - 10.1001/jama.1969.03160140068020
JO  - JAMA
SP  - 112
EP  - 112
VL  - 209
IS  - 1
N2  - To the Editor:— 
    In the Jan 13, 1969, issue of The Journal a MEDICAL NEWS report (p 249) appeared entitled, "Drug May Arrest or Slow ALS," in which it is claimed that amitriptyline (Elavil) hydrochloride beneficially modifies the course of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Although this report claims amelioration in the clinical course of ALS, no acceptable evidence is presented to support this assertion. Although weight gain might indicate a real increase in muscle bulk and arrest of the disease, it might also represent increased fatty tissue or fluid. A true decrease in fasciculations could indicate change in the course of the disease, but one requires a quantitative technique to demonstrate that the fasciculation rate has indeed changed. In the presence of weight gain a thicker mantle of fatty tissue may obscure the observation of fasciculations. It was not mentioned in the report whether objective measurements of strength, functional performance
SN  - 0098-7484
M3  - doi: 10.1001/jama.1969.03160140068020
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1969.03160140068020
ER  -