Progression rate of ALSFRS-R at time of diagnosis predicts survival time in ALS

Abstract

Six months are needed to detect changes in the ALSFRS-R because of variability, due principally to differing rates of progression among patients. Stratified enrollment lowers variability by reducing heterogeneity in the treatment arms. While site of onset and riluzole treatment may impart modest effects, the person’s rate of progression is the most important predictor of outcome.² It is theoretically possible to assign strata using historical information on progression at the baseline visit of a trial using the DeltaFS.¹