How can physicians and their patients with ALS decide to use the newly-available treatments to slow disease progression?

The 1990s decade: has seen the testing of treatments to slow disease progre ssion in patients with ALS. Two such treatments (riluzole and myotrophin) h ave shown minimal or modest efficacy. Of these, riluzole has been approved for marketing in the United States, in Europe and in other countries. Patie nts and physicians who are trying to decide whether to use these treatments require background information: (a) to place these treatments in the conte xt of other treatments; (b) to understand the outcome measures used; and (c ) to understand the significance of the efficacy these treatments have show n. For example, in some cases treatment efficacy has been shown by some mea sures, but not others. This paper attempts to assist in this process. In addition, we attempt to s how how to integrate objective data with relative or subjective factors, su ch as patient values, economic considerations, and the role of hope.