A follow-up study on spastic paraparesis in Japanese HAM/TSP.
We followed 24 patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM) for 4-12 years (mean 7 years) and assessed longitudinal changes of their spastic paraparesis by Kurtzke's Disability Status Scale (DSS). The DSS score of spastic paraparesis was unchanged in 18 patients (75%), advanced (worsened) by two in 1 patient and by one in 3 patients, and declined (improved) by one in 2 patients during the follow-up period. The results demonstrated that HAM presents with a variety of clinical courses including spontaneous improvement.
Department of Internal Medicine, Saga Medical School, Japan.
Y
Y
Kuroda
M
M
Yukitake
K
K
Kurohara
H
H
Takashima
M
M
Matsui
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000503:physiopathology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005719:gamma-Globulins; D011239:Prednisolone