title: [Pathophysiology, treatment and biomarkers for HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP)].
abstract: HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a rare neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system caused by infection with human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1). HAM/TSP is characterized by chronic inflammation in spinal cord, leading to neurodegeneration and consequently the patients with HAM/TSP suffer from unremitting myelopathic symptoms such as spastic paraparesis, lower limb sensory disturbance, and bladder/bowel dysfunction. In the past quarter century since the discovery of this disease, significant advances have been made in the field of HAM/TSP research. Here we summarize current clinical and pathophysiological knowledge on HAM/TSP and discusses future focus areas for research on this disease.
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
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers