TY - JOUR
T1 - Clinical features and lifestyle of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Campania
T2 - Brief overview of an Italian database
AU - Trojsi, Francesca
AU - Sagnelli, Anna
AU - Vanacore, Nicola
AU - Piccirillo, Giovanni
AU - Daniele, Luca
AU - Izzo, Francesco
AU - Laiola, Anna
AU - Costanzo, Alfonso Di
AU - Savettieri, Giovanni
AU - Monsurrò, Maria Rosaria
AU - Tedeschi, Gioacchino
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Background: Physical activity and occupational exposures appeared to play a relevant role in pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease of unknown origin. Materials and methods: We aimed to make an overview of the clinical characteristics and lifestyle (occupation and sport) of a population of 395 patients with ALS from Campania, in southern Italy. Results: ALS onset resulted anticipated of about 11 years in industry workers, whilst the more frequent site of onset among farmers was upper limbs. Compared to non-athletes, athletes, particularly soccer players, showed a 7 years anticipation of ALS onset, with higher mortality after 5 years. Discussion and conclusions: We suggest that subjects genetically prone to abnormal response to hypoxia during strenuous physical activity or exposed to neurotoxic agents, such as athletes, farmers or industry workers, might present increased risk to develop ALS. Future case-control and follow-up studies on our population should be implemented to deepen the present results.
AB - Background: Physical activity and occupational exposures appeared to play a relevant role in pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease of unknown origin. Materials and methods: We aimed to make an overview of the clinical characteristics and lifestyle (occupation and sport) of a population of 395 patients with ALS from Campania, in southern Italy. Results: ALS onset resulted anticipated of about 11 years in industry workers, whilst the more frequent site of onset among farmers was upper limbs. Compared to non-athletes, athletes, particularly soccer players, showed a 7 years anticipation of ALS onset, with higher mortality after 5 years. Discussion and conclusions: We suggest that subjects genetically prone to abnormal response to hypoxia during strenuous physical activity or exposed to neurotoxic agents, such as athletes, farmers or industry workers, might present increased risk to develop ALS. Future case-control and follow-up studies on our population should be implemented to deepen the present results.
KW - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
KW - Clinical database
KW - Motor neuron diseases
KW - Occupational exposure
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U2 - 10.4415/ANN-12-03-09
DO - 10.4415/ANN-12-03-09
M3 - Article
C2 - 23007053
AN - SCOPUS:84866651186
VL - 48
SP - 287
EP - 291
JO - Annali dell'Istituto Superiore di Sanita
JF - Annali dell'Istituto Superiore di Sanita
SN - 0021-2571
IS - 3
ER -