Quantitative assessment of spasticity in human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis.
People with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) develop spasticity. The authors examined 34 patients with HAM/TSP in Perú using a device that measures tone in the gastroc-soleus-Achilles tendon unit and provides a quantitative spasticity assessment (QSA). Tone in the 34 patients was more than double that of women with asymptomatic HTLV-I infection. The device may help to track progression in HTLV-I infection.
Zunt
J R
JR
Harborview Medical Center, Department of Neurology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98104, USA. jzunt@u.washington.edu
Montano
S M
SM
Alarcón
J O V
JO
Longstreth
W T
WT
Price
R
R
Holmes
K K
KK
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology*; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology*