Human neurolathyrism, a follow-up study of 200 patients. Part I: Clinical investigation.
Two hundred patients with chronic neurolathyrism were clinically examined, 25 to 35 years after exposure to the lathyrus sativus pea. All the patients were prisoners in a labour camp under similar nutritional and physical conditions at the outbreak of the syndome. The main symptoms were spastic paraparesis and a neurogenic bladder, both of varying degree. In addition lower motor neuron involvement with muscular atrophies was noticed in 14 cases and simulated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A lathyric sensory neuropathy was found in 12 patients. No cranial lesions or psychiatric disorders were found. Laboratory tests including 5 CSF specimens were normal. HLA typing was unremarkable. Our overall impression was that chronic neurolathyrism in the long run shows a gradually slow progressive course.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D007887:Fabaceae; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007842:Lathyrism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000175:diagnosis; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D010243:Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012677:Sensation