This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
Proposed treatments for ALS have almost all proved ineffective in controlled clinical trials (Rowland LP, Shneider N, unpublished observation, 2001).1 Riluzole is the only Food and Drug Administration–approved agent. Although it has no visible benefits, treatment prolongs life by 3 to 6 months. Riluzole is thought to decrease glutamate excitotoxicity, a player in the pathogenesis of ALS.1
In this issue of Neurology, Miller et al.3 describe a phase III trial of another glutamate antagonist, gabapentin, in 204 patients with ALS. This trial did not confirm a trend toward slowing the decline in arm strength, which was noted in an earlier study.4 The authors conclude that gabapentin therapy is not beneficial for ALS. To their credit, they refrain from putting a positive spin on the results or suggesting that design limitations masked a possibly beneficial effect.
This study demonstrates the importance of confirmatory randomized trials. It also disproves the notion that patients will not participate in a …
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
- Letter in reply to Brigell
- ALS defeats gabapentin: Reflections on another failed treatment
REQUIREMENTS
You must ensure that your Disclosures have been updated within the previous six months. Please go to our Submission Site to add or update your Disclosure information.
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
