Definition: A subacute paralytic myeloneuropathy occurring endemically in tropical areas such as the Caribbean, Colombia, India, and Africa, as well as in the southwestern region of Japan; associated with infection by HUMAN T-CELL LEUKEMIA VIRUS I. Clinical manifestations include a slowly progressive spastic weakness of the legs, increased reflexes, Babinski signs, incontinence, and loss of vibratory and position sensation. On pathologic examination inflammatory, demyelination, and necrotic lesions may be found in the spinal cord. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1239)
Other names Tropical Spastic Paraparesis; HTLV-I-Associated Myelopathy; Tropical Spastic Paraplegias; Tropical Spastic Paraplegia; Tropical Spastic Parapareses; Spastic Paraplegias, Tropical; Spastic Paraplegia, Tropical; Spastic Paraparesis, Tropical; Spastic Parapareses, Tropical; Paraplegias, Tropical Spastic; Parapareses, Tropical Spastic; Myelopathy, Human T Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 Asso; Myelopathy, HTLV-I-Associated; Myelopathies, HTLV-I-Associated; Human T Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 Associated Myelo; HTLV-I-Associated Myelopathies; HTLV I Associated Myelopathy Tropical Spastic Para; HTLV I Associated Myelopathy; Paraplegia, Tropical Spastic; Myelopathy, Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 Asso
