AMA Morning Rounds: Lithium may not help patients with ALS

The AP (4/6, Cheng) reports, "Lithium doesn't help patients with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, contrary to previous study results, new research says." For the "first trial to scientifically assess whether lithium works for Lou Gehrig's disease, doctors found it had no effect -- and stopped the study early because it seemed futile." Eighty-four "patients with Lou Gehrig's disease" were enrolled in the study, and after "nearly six months, researchers didn't see any difference: 22 of the 40 patients in the lithium group had gotten worse versus 20 of 44 patients in the placebo group." The Los Angeles Times (4/5, Maugh) "Booster Shots" blog and MedPage Today (4/5, Gever) also covered the story.