“ALS reversals”: demographics, disease characteristics, treatments, and co-morbidities

Figures & data

Figure 1. ALSFRS-R Progression. There were 12 cases with improvements measured by the ALSFRS-R. Of these, 10 are included in the figure (case 38 had initial measurements on the ALSFRS before the introduction of the ALSFRS-R and case 24 had an unknown date of maximum improvement). This chart shows the progression over time of these 10 cases as measured by the ALSFRS-R from disease onset to last known follow-up. Participants 5, 33, 34, 35, 42, and 99 had documented improvements on additional objective measures. ALSFRS(-R): amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale(-revised).

Table 1. Demographics and disease characteristics of ALS reversals.

A	Cases	PRO-ACT	Statistical test	Result
Age of onset	50.1 (15.3)	53.8 (11.8)	t = 1.89	p = 0.0588
% Male	80.6	60.3	χ^2 = 6.14	p = 0.0132
% White	87.5	95.4	χ^2 = 3.36	p = 0.0669
% With family history of ALS	8.00	15.7	χ^2 = 1.10	p = 0.2940
% Limb onset	93.9	72.1	χ^2 = 7.80	p = 0.0052
Walk score progression rate	−1.59 (1.81)	−0.991 (0.762)	t = 4.28	p < 0.0001
B	Cases	National ALS Registry	Statistical test	Result
Age at diagnosis	50–59	50–59	Z = 2.88	p = 0.0040
% Male	80.6	60.5	χ^2 = 6.05	p = 0.0139
% White	87.5	95.2	χ^2 = 3.08	p = 0.0792
% With family history of ALS	4.00	4.20	χ^2 = 0.003	p = 0.9594

ALS: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; ALSFRS-R: ALS Functional Rating Score–Revised; PRO-ACT: Pooled Resource Open-Access ALS Clinical Trials.

This table compares available demographics and disease characteristics of patients with ALS Reversals to patients in the PRO-ACT database (A) and the National ALS Registry (B). Family history data in the registry included first-degree relatives and family history data in PRO-ACT contained first-through third-degree relatives. As such, cases with first-through third-degree relatives with ALS were considered to have a family history in A and only cases with first-degree relatives with ALS were considered to have a family history in B. Only age ranges were available in the registry, which were compared using Wilcoxon’s rank sum tests. Median age ranges were equivalent, however, rank sum of case age ranges was significantly less and rank sum of control age ranges was significantly greater than their expected values. Proportions were analyzed with Pearson’s chi-square tests and means were analyzed with two-sample t-tests. Standard deviations are included in parentheses where applicable. Walk score progression rate is measured as change per year in points on the ALSFRS-R “walking” question.