ABSTRACT
A paraparesia espástica tropical (PET)é mielopatia crônica, observada predominantemente nos trópicos recentemente descoberta ser de origem retroviral (HTLV-I). O objetivo deste estudo foi delinear a evoluçäo histórica de sua descriçäo, denominaçöes e referências etiológicas. A análise histórica revelou que essa condiçäo teve diferentes denominaçöes e a descoberta de sua etiologia retroviral em parte dos casos abriu diversas linhas de investigaçöes e interesse epidemiológico, nos trópicos e no Brasil
Subject(s)
Humans , Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic/history , Brazil , Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic/etiologyABSTRACT
Faz-se uma revisäo do problema das neuropatias associadas ao protovírus T-linfotrópicos humano (HTLV-I)- NAH- sob o ponto de vista histórico
Subject(s)
Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 , Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic/history , Spinal Cord Diseases/etiology , Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic/etiologyABSTRACT
An abridged review of the current status of chronic endemic neuropathy associated with human lymphotropic virus type I is presented. Tropical and non trpopical spastic paraparesis are associated with HTL V -I antibodies and the virus has been isolated from the blood and spinal fluid of patients, and probably they are a similar process. The case of a 57 year old black female from St. Croix, USVI, with a six year history of progressive spastic paraparesis, sphincter disturbances and subjective sensory complaints is described. Antibodies to HTL V-I were detected by the Elisa and confirmed by Western blot. The patient was treated with Zidovudine 200 mgrs three times a day for six weeks. At the end of this period she was able to walk without assistance, dance, jump and squat. Spasticity, sensory and sphinter disturbances disappeared