Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Diagnostics in University Hospital Saarland Homburg

About the department

The Department of Neurology and Epileptology at the University Hospital Saarland Homburg provides the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services to patients with diseases of the nervous system. The main clinical activities include the diagnostics and treatment of cerebrovascular accidents, inflammatory diseases of the nervous system, neurodegenerative disorders, and epilepsy. The doctors of the medical facility have high-tech diagnostic equipment for a comprehensive assessment of the structure and functions of the brain and spinal cord, as well as peripheral nerves. The department's neurologists cooperate closely with neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists, thanks to which the specialists can cooperatively develop an optimal treatment regimen. During the treatment, the department's specialists most often use drug therapy (pills, injections, and infusions), botulinum toxin therapy, physiotherapy procedures, and modern neurostimulation methods. The department has 85 beds to accommodate inpatients. The department is headed by Prof. Dr. med. Klaus Fassbender.

One of the most important focuses of the department's work is stroke treatment. For this purpose, the department has a modern Stroke Unit with 16 beds. The Stroke Unit has state-of-the-art equipment and effective monitoring systems. Patients with all types of stroke can receive competent medical care here. When providing emergency care, doctors use thrombolytic therapy, catheter angiography, as well as mechanical removal of a blood clot that caused vascular occlusion and disrupted the blood supply to the brain. After providing first aid, treating stroke complications and detecting the causes of the condition, an individual plan is developed for the prevention and correction of risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol levels, smoking, being overweight, sedentary lifestyle, etc.

The specialists of the medical facility admit patients with HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. HIV infection and drugs for its treatment often provoke damage to the brain and spinal cord or peripheral nerves, so HIV positive patients should periodically consult with a neurologist. The diagnostics begins with a study of the patient's medical history and a neurological examination, after which additional tests may be prescribed, including a lumbar puncture, electrophysiological studies, imaging diagnostics (X-ray, CT or MRI), memory testing, etc. The obtained diagnostic data is assessed cooperatively by neurologists and experts in infectious diseases. The specialists carefully think through the treatment tactics, which are based on drug therapy with pills or injectable medications.

The department's team of doctors has been treating patients with multiple sclerosis for many years. It is a chronic autoimmune disease of the nervous system that causes visual loss, facial and body numbness, muscle weakness, impaired coordination, and other symptoms. The pathology most often affects women and develops at a young age (20-40 years). The main examination methods are magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spinal cord and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Electrophysiological studies may also be required. As for the treatment, multiple sclerosis remains an incurable disease, so therapeutic measures are aimed at eliminating symptoms and preventing its progression. Depending on the clinical case, a patient may be prescribed drug therapy, including infusion therapy. In addition, the department's neurologists have successful experience in immunotherapy for multiple sclerosis. In the case of exacerbations of the pathology, plasmapheresis or immunoadsorption can be conducted on an inpatient basis. Massage, therapeutic exercises, and physiotherapy procedures also contribute to maintaining good health in patients with multiple sclerosis.

The department's doctors have vast experience in treating patients with movement disorders of neurological origin such as Parkinson's disease, including atypical parkinsonism, tremor, and dystonia. During the diagnostics, blood and urine tests, gait analysis, nuclear diagnostic methods (18F-DOPA PET/CT), and magnetic resonance imaging are used. A treatment regimen is developed for each patient individually and may include duodopa and apomorphine infusions with a special pump, deep brain stimulation, and other methods.

The department has a specialized outpatient clinic where patients with epilepsy or suspected epilepsy can receive effective medical care. To confirm or exclude the diagnosis, the department's doctors perform blood tests, electroencephalography, and CT or MRI scans. At the same time, it is important for the specialists to differentiate epileptic seizures from other convulsive syndromes. In most cases, anticonvulsants are used to treat epilepsy, the dosage and duration of which the attending physician determines individually based on the diagnostic results. If drug therapy does not give the desired result, deep brain stimulation may be conducted. The last-line therapy is epilepsy surgery performed by experienced neurosurgeons.

The department specializes in the diagnostics and treatment of the following neurological pathologies:

• Stroke
• HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders
• Multiple sclerosis and other neuroimmunological diseases
• Movement disorders of neurological origin: Parkinson's disease, atypical parkinsonism, tremor, and dystonia
• Epilepsy
• Polyneuropathies
• Neuromuscular diseases: myopathies, spinal amyotrophies, myasthenia gravis, myotonia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Kennedy's disease, hereditary spastic paraparesis, etc.
• Autoimmune encephalitis
• Other diseases of the nervous system 

The department's range of diagnostic and therapeutic services includes:

• Diagnostics
  • X-ray scans
  • Myelography
  • Computed tomography (CT)
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • Angiography
  • Extra- and intracranial Doppler ultrasonography and duplex sonography of the cerebral vessels
  • Cerebral blood flow testing
  • Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography and duplex sonography of the cerebral vessels
  • Cerebral embolism detection
  • Cerebral circulation vasomotor reserve determination
  • Brain parenchyma sonography (determination of the size of the cerebral ventricles, brain tumor and brain hemorrhage imaging, and brain stem imaging in Parkinson's disease)
  • Cerebrospinal fluid analysis
  • Neurophysiological studies
    • Electromyography
    • Electroneurography
    • Assessment of the autonomic nervous system with verification of autonomic cardiovascular reactions
    • Electroencephalography (for example, to diagnose epilepsy)
    • Evoked potentials (for example, for the diagnostics of multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
    • Reflex testing
    • Electronystagmography
    • Posturography
    • Movement disorder testing (Movement Analysis Laboratory)
• Treatment
  • Drug therapy with pills
  • Injection and infusion therapy
  • Botulinum toxin therapy
  • Deep brain stimulation (for example, for Parkinson's disease)
  • Physiotherapy
• Other diagnostic and treatment methods