title: [Tropical spastic paraparesis: a necessary redefinition].
abstract: The author disserts on the definition of Tropical Spastic Paraparesis since its first description up to the etiological involvement of HTLV-1 in part of the cases. According to him the basic nucleus of the syndrome consists of a paraparesis with pyramidal signs (spasticity and hyperreflexia) with variable sensory and sphincter symptoms. The retroviral etiology by HTLV-1 is one of the variable elements of the condition. He aims at preventing conceptual distortions in the description of this condition.
authors: Serviço de Neurologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará.
authors: C M
authors: CM
authors: De Castro-Costa
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic; D009626:Terminology as Topic
vernacular_title: Paraparesia espástica tropical: uma redefinição necessária.