Primary Lateral Sclerosis
Basics
Description
- Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a rare progressive degenerative disease of the corticospinal and corticobulbar tracts (upper motor neurons [UMNs]), which spares the anterior horn cells.
- Characterized by leg weakness, spasticity, and bulbar symptoms like dysphagia and dysarthria
- Additional features include cognitive impairment, eye movement abnormalities, and urinary dysfunction.
- Part of the spectrum of motor neuron diseases (MNDs) because some patients with PLS evolve to develop amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Conversion from PLS to ALS has been reported up to 27 years after the onset of spasticity.
Epidemiology
- Found in 1–3% of patients with motor neuron disorder
- Onset is usually after age 40 years, although a juvenile form has been described.
- Mean age at symptom onset is 54 years.
- There is a slight male predominance, which is similar to ALS.
Incidence
Incidence is difficult to determine due to rarity, misdiagnosis, and changing diagnosis. An estimated 1/10 million per year or 300 to 500 people in the United States are diagnosed yearly.
Prevalence
Estimated prevalence is 10 to 20 per million.
Etiology and Pathophysiology
PLS is usually sporadic with no known cause; potential role of TAR DNA–binding protein 43 (TDP-43) (1)
Genetics
- Juvenile PLS and juvenile ALS has been correlated with a mutation in the ALS2 gene on chromosome 2. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern.
- Mutation of the ERLIN2 gene, a component of the endoplasmic reticulum lipid raft has been linked to juvenile PLS.
General Prevention
There is no known means of prevention.
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Citation
Domino, Frank J., et al., editors. "Primary Lateral Sclerosis." 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 33rd ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2025. Medicine Central, im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688598/all/Primary_Lateral_Sclerosis.
Primary Lateral Sclerosis. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, et al, eds. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688598/all/Primary_Lateral_Sclerosis. Accessed December 9, 2024.
Primary Lateral Sclerosis. (2025). In Domino, F. J., Baldor, R. A., Golding, J., & Stephens, M. B. (Eds.), 5-Minute Clinical Consult (33rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688598/all/Primary_Lateral_Sclerosis
Primary Lateral Sclerosis [Internet]. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, Stephens MBM, editors. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. [cited 2024 December 09]. Available from: https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688598/all/Primary_Lateral_Sclerosis.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
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T1 - Primary Lateral Sclerosis
ID - 1688598
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ED - Baldor,Robert A,
ED - Golding,Jeremy,
ED - Stephens,Mark B,
BT - 5-Minute Clinical Consult, Updating
UR - https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688598/all/Primary_Lateral_Sclerosis
PB - Wolters Kluwer
ET - 33
DB - Medicine Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
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