New findings and symptomatic treatment for neurolathyrism, a motor neuron disease occurring in north west Bangladesh.
Neurolathyrism is a form of spastic paraparesis caused by the neuroexcitatory amino acid 3-N-oxalyl-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid (beta-ODAP) present in the seeds and foliage of Lathyrus sativus. The disease is irreversible and usually nonprogressive. Tolperisone HCl, a centrally acting muscle relaxant, has been shown to reduce significantly the spasticity in neurolathyrism patients. Sporadic occurrence of HTLV-1 infection (0.9%) and of osteolathyrism was found among the neurolathyrism patients. Osteolathyrism is linked to the consumption of the green shoots of Lathyrus sativus.
Haque
A
A
Department of Neurology, Institute of Postgraduate Medicine and Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Hossain
M
M
Khan
J K
JK
Kuo
Y H
YH
Lambein
F
F
De Reuck
J
J
D001459:Bangladesh; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000150:complications; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D007842:Lathyrism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014049:Tolperisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D014049:Tolperisone