Book Review

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

N Engl J Med 2000; 342:1618May 25, 2000

Article

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Edited by Robert H. Brown, Jr., Vincent Meininger, and Michael Swash. 479 pp., illustrated. London, Martin Dunitz, 2000. (Distributed by Blackwell Science, Malden, Mass.) £75. ISBN: 1-85317-421-1

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive, paralyzing illness that is invariably fatal. It has been neglected until recently because there was only a poor understanding of pathogenesis and no treatment. Physicians often experience a sense of helplessness and frustration in conveying the diagnosis truthfully to patients and in helping them to cope with advancing disability and the prospect of death.

This book is an excellent review of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with respect to clinical features, pathological findings, functional and physiologic studies, pathogenesis, therapeutic approaches, and patient care. It is an international effort, with its three editors from the United States, France, and the United Kingdom and 57 other contributors, all of whom are acknowledged experts in the field. It is a credit to the editors that the various chapters read seamlessly, with little sign of the multiple authorship. In addition, this is a handsome book with an excellent typeface.

All of the issues surrounding amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are dealt with in depth; a thought-provoking chapter covers the controversial subjects of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. I strongly recommend this compendium to neurologists and other physicians who provide care for patients with this illness.

Austin J. Sumner, M.D.
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112