Motor neuron disease in black African patients at a tertiary care hospital in Soweto, South Africa.
J Neurol Sci
; 451: 120710, 2023 08 15.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37379726
INTRODUCTION: In this brief report, we describe the nature of ALS in a South African cohort of patients of Black African ancestry - a population which has been historically understudied. METHODS: We performed a chart review of all patients attending the ALS/MND clinic at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, during the period 1 January 2015 to 30 June 2020. Cross-sectional demographic and clinical data captured at the time of diagnosis was collected. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients were included in the study. Males constituted 66% (n = 47), with a male to female sex ratio of 2:1. The median age at onset of symptoms was 46 years (IQR 40-57) with a median disease duration at diagnosis (diagnostic delay) of 2 years (IQR 1-3). The onset was spinal in 76% and bulbar in 23%. The median ALSFRS-R score at time of presentation was 29 (IQR 23-38.5). The median ALSFRS-R slope (unit/month) was 0.80 (IQR 0.43-1.39). Sixty five patients (92%) were diagnosed with the classic ALS phenotype. Fourteen patients were known to be HIV positive, and of those, 12 were on antiretroviral treatment (ART). None of the patients had familial ALS. CONCLUSION: Our findings of an earlier age at symptom onset and seemingly advanced disease at presentation in patients with Black African ancestry support the existing literature on the African population.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Enfermedad de la Neurona Motora
/
Esclerosis Amiotrófica Lateral
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
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Observational_studies
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Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
/
Middle aged
País/Región como asunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Neurol Sci
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Sudáfrica
Pais de publicación:
Países Bajos