Frequency and clinical manifestations of post-poliomyelitis syndrome in a Brazilian tertiary care center.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency and clinical manifestations of patients with post-poliomyelitis syndrome (PPS) in a Brazilian division of neuromuscular disorders.


METHODS
A total of 167 patients with prior history of paralytic poliomyelitis was investigated for PPS, based on international diagnostic criteria. Other variables analyzed were: gender, race, age at poliomyelitis infection, age at PPS onset, and PPS symptoms.


RESULTS
One hundred and twenty-nine patients presented PPS, corresponding to 77.2% of the studied population. 62.8% were women and 37.2% were men. Mean age of patients with PPS at onset of PPS symptoms was 39.9±9.69 years. Their main clinical manifestations were: new weakness in the previously affected limbs (69%) and in the apparently not affected limbs (31%); joint pain (79.8%); fatigue (77.5%); muscle pain (76%); and cold intolerance (69.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
Most patients of our sample presented PPS. In Brazil, PPS frequency and clinical features are quite similar to those of other countries.
Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Division of Neuromuscular Disorders, Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo SP, Brazil. aajquadros@gmail.com
Abrahão Augusto Juviniano
AA
Quadros
Mônica Tilli Reis Pessoa
MT
Conde
Luis Fabiano
LF
Marin
Helga Cristina Almeida
HC
Silva
Tatiana Mesquita e
TM
Silva
Maria Bernadete Eduardo de
MB
Paula
Roberto Dias Batista
RD
Pereira
Paulo Eduardo
PE
Ramos
Gislane
G
Abe
Acary Souza Bulle
AS
Oliveira
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000175:diagnosis; D016262:Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data