Characteristics of Chronic Pain and Its Impact on Quality of Life of Patients With HTLV-1-associated Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (HAM/TSP).
OBJECTIVE
we describe the prevalence of chronic pain and their characteristics in 43 consecutive patients presenting with human T-lymphotropic virus Type I (HTLV-1) associated myelopathy (HAM) /tropical spastic paraparesis in Salvador, Brazil.


METHODS
in this cross-sectional study, we included 43 consecutive patients with HAM/TSP from Sarah Salvador Unit of the Rehabilitation, in Bahia, Brazil. They were evaluated from September 2007 to July 2008. We used the following scales: Functional disability scales (EDSS, OSAME e HOFFER); visual analogue scale; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; McGill Pain Questionnaire; DN4 Questionnaire and SF-36 Quality-of-Life Questionnaire.


RESULTS
chronic pain was highly prevalent (38 patients---88.4%) in this population. We detected an inverse correlation between duration of the disease and the likelihood of patients to present with chronic pain (P<0.05). Individuals with greater neurologic deficits had much more neuropathic, whereas those with lower motor deficit had mainly the characteristics of nociceptive pain (P<0.05). A positive correlation was observed between the score of the dominant pain or the additional pain, and the number of pain descriptors (P<0.05 for both evaluations). The patients with chronic pain had worst Quality-of-Life scores (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
chronic pain was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of signs/symptoms of anxiety and depression, reflecting a negative impact of pain on patients´ quality of life.
Netto
Elaine Coutinho
EC
Rede Sarah de Hospitais de Reabilitação †Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
Brites
Carlos
C
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires