What are the Risks of Tropical Spastic Paraparesis?

What is Tropical Spastic Paraparesis?

Tropical spastic paraparesis which is also known as HTLV-associated myelopathy or chornic progressive myelopathy affects the spinal cord. It is an infection that occurs by Human T-lymphotropic virus that leads to paraparesis and weakens the legs. This infection is mostly found in tropical regions like Caribbean and Africa.

What are the Symptoms of Tropical Spastic Paraparesis?

The signs of symptoms of tropical spastic paraparesis include:

• Increasing muscle weakness
• Sensory disturbance
• Sphincter dysfunction
• Urinary incontinence
• Uveitis
• Arthritis
• Pulmonary lymphocyte alveolitis
• Polymyositis
• Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
• Infectious dermatitis

What is the Prevention?

The best way to prevent tropical spastic paraparesis is to screen products used in blood transfusion for HTLV-1 antibodies.

What are the Risks?

The risks associated with tropical spastic paraparesis include:

• Incontinence
• Oligoclonal bands
• Myelopathy

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