Unexplained spastic paraplegia.
Of 330 Black patients admitted to hospital with paraplegia, the causes in 33 remained unexplained after investigation. These patients had features of predominant corticospinal tract degeneration with lesser degrees of sensory loss. This series of patients is similar to some reported previously from South Africa and from other tropical countries. Among several possible causes the most likely is a toxic dietary factor.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology*