Brazilian studies on tropical spastic paraparesis. A meta-analysis.
Tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) is a chronic progressive myelopathy and in most of the cases has a retroviral (HTLV-1) etiology, when it is denominated HTLV-1 associated-mielopathy (HAM/TSP). Around 433 cases of TSP have been described in Northeast and Southeast Brazil. Among these cases, 157 (36.2%) are HTLV-1 positive and 276 (63.7%) are negative. Their mean age is 43.8 years with a slight predominance of females and mulattoes, although white patients are also numerous. Clinically all patients exhibit a spastic paraparesis with variable sphincter and sensory disturbance. Pain and autonomic symptoms seem to be expressive in the HTLV-1 positive HAM/TSP Brazilian patients.
De Castro Costa
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CM
Hospital das Clínicas, Serviço de Neurologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFCE), Brasil.
Carton
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Goubau
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D'Almeida
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JA
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*