Haruo Nakayama, Yu Hiramoto and Satoshi Iwabuchi
Toho University Ohashi Medical Center, Japan
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Neurol Neurosci
Introduction: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a relatively rare progressive neuromuscular disease characterized by the degeneration of upper to lower motor neurons. Still, the relationship of ALS and contact sports has been controversial. We present a case report of a Japanese ALS patient who is former Rugby player.
Case presentation: A 36-year-old man was presented to our hospital complaining of dysarthria of unknown origin. He had slight shown left upper limb motor weakness. He had a history of repeated sports concussion related by Rugby football. Brain and cervical MRI revealed no abnormal findings. Needle electromyography showed fibrillation potential, positive sharp wave and bundle formation potential in left and right upper and lower extremity muscles. The patient was diagnosed with ALS and used Riluzole.
Conclusions: ALS should be suspected in patients with chronic head blow with contact sports. So far, there were no such reports in Japan. Our case suggests that it will be necessary to examine the relationship between contact sports and ALS, in Japan.
Haruo Nakayama became the Associate Professor at Toho University School of Medicine, Neurosurgery. He is sports-related head injury specialist. In March 2010, became the Doctor of Medicine (Toho University). In March 2003, he graduated from Toho University School of Medicine.
E-mail: haruonakayama@med.toho-u.ac.jp
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