title: [The current and future approaches to the treatment of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP)].
abstract: Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus that is the causative agent of a progressive neurological disease termed HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). HAM/TSP is a chronic neuroinflammatory disease characterized by spastic paraparesis, lower limb sensory disturbance and bladder/bowel dysfunction. Over the twenty-five years since the discovery of this disease, significant advancements have been made in the pathogenic mechanisms associated with HAM/TSP, however, little progress has been made in the treatment of this disorder. This review highlights the natural history of HAM/TSP, informative results of clinical trials, and discusses the current and future approaches to the treatment of HAM/TSP within the context of our understanding of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rare Diseases Research, Institute of Medical Science, St. Marianna University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamano
authors.forename: Tomoo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Natsumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Araya
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yagishita
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*