Clinical features of fatigue in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Background. Fatigue (athenia) is widely spread among patients with neurological disorders. It substantially reduces patients’ quality of life. Its clinical features and mechanisms of the development have not been studies sufficiently.Aim. To analyze clinical features of fatigue in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Materials and methods. Forty two patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis were recruited to the study. Fatigue was assessed using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20). The independent predictors of the severity of fatigue were calculated using linear regression analysis.Results. Fatigue was detected in 27 (64 %) patients. The most common type of fatigue was reduced activity, the least common – general fatigue. Severity of depression and motor neurological deficit were independent predictors of fatigue according to general MFI-20 score.Conclusion. Fatigue in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is wide spread phenomenon. Its clinical features include both physical and mental components.