AI Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Gold Coast criteria for diagnosing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) compared to existing methods like the Awaji and revised El Escorial criteria.
- Researchers analyzed data from 506 ALS patients, finding that the Gold Coast criteria were highly sensitive (92%) and performed well across different patient groups, including those with atypical symptoms.
- The results suggest that the Gold Coast criteria could enhance diagnosis in clinical settings and should be integrated into future research and treatment plans for ALS.
Article Abstract
Objective: The diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains problematic, with current diagnostic criteria (revised El Escorial [rEEC] and Awaji) being complex and prone to error. Consequently, the diagnostic utility of the recently proposed Gold Coast criteria was determined in ALS.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 506 patients (302 males, 204 females) to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the Gold Coast criteria to that of the Awaji and rEEC criteria (defined by the proportion of patients categorized as definite, probable, or possible ALS) in accordance with standards of reporting of diagnostic accuracy criteria.
Results: The sensitivity of Gold Coast criteria (92%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 88.7-94.6%) was comparable to that of Awaji (90.3%, 95% CI = 86.69-93.2%) and rEEC (88.6, 95% CI = 84.8-91.7%) criteria. Additionally, the Gold Coast criteria sensitivity was maintained across different subgroups, defined by site of onset, disease duration, and functional disability. In atypical ALS phenotypes, the Gold Coast criteria exhibited greater sensitivity and specificity.
Interpretation: The present study established the diagnostic utility of the Gold Coast criteria in ALS, with benefits evident in bulbar and limb onset disease patients, as well as atypical phenotypes. The Gold Coast criteria should be considered in clinical practice and therapeutic trials. ANN NEUROL 2021;89:979-986.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ana.26045 | DOI Listing |
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