Immunosuppressive treatment of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Documented treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is not available. Several studies have suggested an immunological etiology and an effect on the course of disease, when ALS-patients were treated with immunosuppressants. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of immunosuppressive therapy in ALS-patients comparing the course of disease in treated patients and in historic controls with ALS; 21 patients were included in the study, 17 men and 4 women. Median age at admission was 54 years for men and 61 years for women. 5 had progressive bulbar palsy, 7 both upper and lower motor neuron affections and 9 progressive muscular atrophy. Patients were treated with prednisolone and azathioprine for 1 year and examined regularly; 12 were treated and followed for more than a year. No definite difference between survival in treated patients and their controls was found.