Tartaglia et al identified several clinical findings that can help distinguish primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The authors are from the London Health Sciences Centre (Ontario) and the University of Western Ontario.
Clinical findings:
(1) spasticity as a presenting symptom
(2) stiffness as a presenting symptom
(3) muscle wasting in the limbs at 3 years
Clinical Finding
PLS
ALS
spasticity at presentation
present
absent
stiffness at presentation
present
absent
muscle wasting
absent
present
In the Figure on page 233 the median survival for ALS is given as 2.8 years while that of PLS is in the order of 16 years. 96% of patients with PLS will be alive at 3 years while only 50% of patients with ALS will be.
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