Interest of a computerized ALS database in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with ALS

The aim of the study is to present a computerized database of the Neurology department of Limoges University Hospital and the main results obtained fr om data of 340 patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), diagnosed between 1984 and 1997. It is a user friendly and can be accessed by ail neurologists at any level of computer knowledge. This database is m odular (6 modules) and flexible according to need. The software used, Acces s 7, is an open relation database, which allows export of data to statistic al or other compatible software. One of the reasons, which led to the elabo ration of this database was to develop a means of collecting data in an ana lyzable manner for therapeutic trials. During these trials, a great number of data can be collected during each clinic visit for the evaluation of the degree of impairment, disability, and handicap. We present part of the dat a from the patients followed, some of whom were treated with riluzole, the current reference molecule for ALS.