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. 2025 Mar;46(3):1225-1236.
doi: 10.1007/s10072-024-07760-w. Epub 2024 Sep 30.

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in an Egyptian cohort

Radwa Soliman  1 , Enass Onbool  2 , Kareem Omran  2 , Nagia Fahmy  3
Affiliations

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in an Egyptian cohort

Radwa Soliman et al. Neurol Sci. 2025 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder associated with progressive loss of motor neurons. It is a growing and underestimated disease, prompting this epidemiological study to describe the characteristics of ALS in Egyptian patients.

Methods: This is a prospective hospital based study. ALS patients were recruited consecutively from Neuromuscular Unit in Ain Shams university Hospital from December 2018 to June 2023. Demographic data and disease related parameters were recorded.

Results: 203 ALS patients had a mean age of onset equal 39 years and an inter quartile range IQR of (28.00-51.00). 76% of the cases were spinal onset ALS. Median disease duration was 2 years with IQR of (1-4 years); male to female ratio was 2.5:1; 18% of patients were familial ALS (FALS), while 19% were Juvenile ALS (JALS). Median diagnostic delay was 12 ± (6-36) months. Median Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale Revised scores (ALSFRS-R) at presentation was 34.5 IQR of (26.00-40.00). Also, the mean rate of disease progression ALSFRS-R decline [points/month] was 0.76 ± 0.51.

Conclusion: Our cohort was characterized by a younger age of onset, male predominance, more familial cases, within average Initial ALSFRS-R scores as well as diagnostic delay. Juvenile ALS patients were much more common in our population. These findings suggest an influential presence of genetic and epigenetic factors affecting the clinical phenotype of Egyptian ALS patients.

Keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Clinical; Disease progression; Egypt; Epidemiology; Registry.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethical standards: Our study involves human participants and was approved by the ethical committee and institutional review board of the faculty of medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt with the number FMASUMS67, in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (WMA, 1964). Informed consent: All participants signed informed written consent for participation. Conflict of interest: “The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.”

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