Natural History of Muscle Cramps in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2016
Keywords
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cramps, muscle spasms, natural history, pain
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.24892
Abstract
Introduction: Muscle cramping is a common symptom in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that lacks efficacious treatment. The natural history of this symptom is unknown, which hampers efforts to design optimal clinical trials.
Methods: We surveyed early stage ALS patients about their experience with cramps each month by phone for up to 21 months.
Results: Cramps developed in 95% of patients over the course of their disease. The number of cramps experienced by an individual varied widely from month-to-month and trended lower after the first year of illness (P = 0.26). Those with limb-onset and age >60 years had more cramps than bulbar-onset (P < 0.0001) and younger patients (P < 0.0001).
Conclusions: The high variability of the number of cramps experienced suggests that clinical trials will need to use crossover designs or large numbers of participants, even when the treatment effect is substantial. Muscle Nerve 53: 513–517, 2016
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Muscle & Nerve, v. 53, issue 4, p. 513-517
Scholar Commons Citation
Caress, James B.; Ciarlone, Stephanie L.; Sullivan, Elizabeth A.; Griffin, Leah P.; and Cartwright, Michael S., "Natural History of Muscle Cramps in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis" (2016). Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology Faculty Publications. 32.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/mpp_facpub/32
