Rinshō shinkeigaku = Clinical neurology
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Comparative Study
[Clinical characteristics of elderly Japanese patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; with special reference to the development of respiratory failure].
To clarify the characteristics of elderly-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ⋯ In regard to the progression of respiratory function deterioration, early % VC was lower in E-ALS than in Y-ALS patients, and the period until VC fell below 1 L was shorter. The period until death was particularly short in elderly BP and RF patients, suggesting the possibility that the duration until death from respiratory failure is shorter in E-ALS, because of a decrease in respiratory reverse capacity that accompanies age.