Abstract
To the Editor.— In relation to the article by Dr. Michael H. M. Dykes (231:862, 1975), our experience using the muscle relaxant dantrolene sodium (Dantrium) in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may provide additional information on side effects and precautions. Dantrolene has been used in controlling spasticity resulting from disorders such as spinal cord injury, brain damage secondary to birth trauma, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. Although the spastic syndromes associated with motor neuron manifestations in ALS are not mentioned in the literature 1-3 or in the package insert by the company producing the drug, it would seem justifiable to use this muscle relaxant because this syndrome affects the corticospinal pathways, producing spasticity that interferes with motor function and rehabilitation. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis comprises a group of progressive diseases in which variable degrees of atrophy of motor neurons and degeneration of the corticospinal tracts are the common pathological results: Progressive
Published Version
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