RISK FACTORS OF AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS IN GEORGIA.

Objective - to identify risk factors in patients diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Georgia directed to The First University Clinic of TSMU and P. Sarajishvili Institute of Neurology. Totally 53 patients, aged 24 to 82 years, were investigated with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), defined by "Gold Coast " criteria. We have used the Questionnaire for Environmental Exposures, Toxins, and Neurological diseases developed by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical center to identify risk factors, and categorized patients according to the place of settlement and environmental hazards. The control consisted of age and sex matched 50 healthy individuals. The brain was visualized by MRI (1.5T), and Electromyography (EMG) was performed on all patients. ALS risk was higher among those ever holding a job in mechanics, painting, or construction (p<0.05), head trauma or concussion that caused a "blackout" or loss of consciousness was associated with a higher risk of ALS (p<0.01). Demographically more ALS cases were found in Tbilisi and Imereti, compared to other regions (p<0.05). According to our research on Georgian ALS cases, several occupational jobs, Head trauma is associated with developing ALS in Georgia, Research is needed to identify environmental risk factors attributing to higher rates of ALS in Tbilisi and Imereti.

MODERN ASPECTS OF ETIOPATHOGENESIS, DIAGNOSIS, CLINICAL COURSE AND TREATMENT OF SPORADIC INCLUSION BODY MYOSITIS.

While it is the most common inflammatory myopathy among middle-aged and elderly people, sporadic inclusion body myositis (IBM) presents as the most challenging disease to diagnose. The prevalence of IBM varies greatly depending on geographical, ethnic and age factors. Frequency of the disease incidence among the general population ranges from 1:1,000,000 to 1:14,000. Over the past 50 years, it has tripled. The etiology and pathogenetic mechanisms of IBM have not yet been fully studied and, therefore, the criteria for diagnosis and treatment have not been fully established. A treatment algorithm developed for other inflammatory myopathies is not effective in IBM. Thus, the aim of this work is to review, summarize and analyze the latest medical literature on etiopathogenesis, clinical phenotypes, global prevalence, genetic predisposition, diagnostic criteria and treatment trends for IBM, which will contribute to the improvement and practical application of current diagnostic and therapeutic methods of the disease.