Medical history (history of illness) is an important component in the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Family history
- Are there any hereditary diseases in your family?
- Are there any diseases in your family that are common?
Social anamnesis
Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).
- What symptoms have you noticed?
- When does this muscle spasm occur?
- How long has this symptomatology been present?
- Are you in pain?
- Have you noticed any paralysis and/or sensory disturbances? If so, how long have these existed and where exactly are they localized?
Vegetative anamnesis incl. nutritional anamnesis.
- Have you lost body weight? Please tell us your body weight (in kg) and height (in cm).
- Have you noticed any changes in bowel movements and/or urination?
- Can you hold stool and urine?
Self-history
- Previous diseases (neurological diseases)
- Operations
- Allergies
- Pregnancies
Medication history (due tomuscle spasms).
- Beta-blockers (antihypertensive drugs).
- Beta-sympathomimetics (drugs that have a performance-enhancing effect on the heart and a muscle-slackening effect on smooth muscle)
- Calcium antagonists (drugs that lower blood pressure).
- Quinidine (drug used for cardiac arrhythmias).
- Cholinergics (parasympathomimetics) – e.g., carbachol, neostigmine, pyridostigmine.
- Diuretics (diuretic drugs).
- Ibuprofen (drug from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, used to treat pain, inflammation and fever).
- Statins, clofibric acid derivatives (fat-lowering drugs).
Environmental history
- Diesel exhaust (contain hexane (chemical compound belonging to alkanes) and formaldehyde): 13% increased risk in men.
- Extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (men) (observational study).
- Pesticides: pentachlorobenzene (OR 2.21; 1.06-4.60) and cis-chlordane (OR 5.74; 1.80-18.20).
- Polybrominated diphenyl ether 47 (OR 2.69; 1.49-4.85).
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): PCB 175 (OR 1.81; 1.20-2.72) and PCB 202 (OR 2.11; 1.36-3.27)Note: Polychlorinated biphenyls belong to the endocrine disruptors (synonym: xenohormones), which even in the smallest amounts can damage health by altering the hormonal system.
