title: Late functional deterioration following paralytic poliomyelitis.
abstract: Many patients with previous poliomyelitis develop 'post-polio syndrome' (PPS) in which late functional deterioration follows a period of relative stability. The frequency with which PPS can be attributed to clearly defined causes remains uncertain. We reviewed 283 newly-referred patients with previous poliomyelitis seen consecutively over a 4-year period; 239 patients developed symptoms of functional deterioration at a mean of 35 (5-65) years after the paralytic illness. Functional deterioration was associated with orthopaedic disorders in 170 cases, neurological disorders in 35, respiratory disorders in 19 and other disorders in 15. Progressive post-polio muscular atrophy was not observed. Functional deterioration following paralytic polio-myelitis is common, and associated with orthopaedic, neurological, respiratory and general medical factors which are potentially treatable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kidd
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Heatley
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Panayiotopoulos
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Spencer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016262:Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors