title: Tropical spastic paraparesis treated with Combivir (lamivudine-zidovudine).
abstract: Tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) or human T-cell leukemia virus-type 1 (HTLV-I)-associated myelopathy is caused by human T-lymphotropic virus type 1. It is a slow, progressive spastic paraparesis with significant morbidity and causing profound repercussions on quality of life. No therapies have been found to persistently improve the outcome in these patients. We present a patient with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/TSP (HAM/TSP) who was treated with Combivir (lamivudine-zidovudine, GlaxoSmithKline, London, UK). She was walker-dependent for several years but, soon after treatment with lamivudine-zidovudine, was able to walk using only a cane. The role of lamivudine-zidovudine should be investigated further in this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, 2799 West Boulevard, Detroit 48202, MI, USA. Electronic address: shassan2@hfhs.org.
authors.forename: Syed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Syed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amer
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zervos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; C109078:lamivudine, zidovudine drug combination; D019259:Lamivudine; D015215:Zidovudine