Survival in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients in Argentina (P01.099)

Objective: To describe the survival in patients with ALS and the subgroup of patients who survive more than 5 years. Background The survival in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is usually 2 to 5 years. Those who live more than 5 years are considered patients with prolonged survival(ALSps).There are few data of life expectancy in ALS in South America and Argentina. Design/Methods: We reviewed medical records of patients with diagnosis of ALS according with the Escorial criteria between 2001 and 2010 in two centres of Buenos Aires, Argentina. We divided them into two groups according the months of survival (more or less than 60 months). The age, gender, time onset to diagnosis, site of onset and first symptom were analyzed. Qualitative categories were analyzed with x² and Quantitative with T-test. Results: Of 193 ALS patients, survival data were available in 133. The mean survival was 35 months. 15.8% (n=21) lived over 60 months (ALSps). ALSps patients with spinal onset were younger than patients with a survival below 60 months ( 50 vs. 58 years)(p=0.01), while there was no difference in patients with bulbar onset (63vs.61 years)(p=NS). There were no differences in gender, site of onset and first symptom between the two groups, although all bulbar patients with prolonged survival started with dysarthria. Time onset to diagnosis was significantly longer in ALSps (28 vs 14 months)(p Conclusions: The mean survival in ALS in our series was 35 months and 15.8% outlived over 5 years, similar to other reports in literature. ALSps patients had a longer time to diagnosis and the patients with spinal onset were younger than those who lived less than 5 years. Dysarthria was the first symptom in all bulbar ALSps patients, this finding has not been reported previously. Disclosure: Dr. Bettini has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rugiero has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gonorazky has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rey has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cristiano has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rodriguez has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sica has nothing to disclose.