INFORMATION ON RETROVIRUS-ASSOCIATED MYELOPATHY

Tropical spastic paraparesis is used to describe a chronic and progressive clinical syndrome that affected adults living in equatorial areas of the world. This condition was initially thought to be associated with infectious agents and with chronic nutritional deficiencies or exposure to potentially toxic foods Neurological and modern neuroepidemiological studies found that in some individuals no one cause could explain the progressive weakness, sensory disturbance, and sphincter dysfunction that affected individuals with Tropical spastic paraparesis. In spite of public health programs created to eradicate the above-mentioned infectious and nutritional conditions in the tropics, large numbers of people continued to be affected.

SYNONYMS OF RETROVIRUS-ASSOCIATED MYELOPATHY

Retrovirus-Associated Myelopathy
Associated Myelopath
Tropical Spastic Paraparesis

CAUSES OF RETROVIRUS-ASSOCIATED MYELOPATHY

Retrovirus-Associated Myelopathy is caused by a virus that results in immune dysfunction. Patients with HAM/TSP may also exhibit uveitis
Co-factors that may play a role in transmitting the disorder include being a recipient of transfusion blood products (especially before 1989), breast milk feeding from a seropositive mother, intravenous drug use, or being the sexual partner of a seropositive individual for several years.

SYMPTOMS OF RETROVIRUS-ASSOCIATED MYELOPATHY

1. General Symptoms are headache, fatigue, swelling, weight
2. Unclear Symptoms are no symptoms, vague symptoms
3. Common Symptoms are cough, fever, flu-like, cold-like, nausea, vomiting
4. Digestive Symptoms are diarrhea, constipation, bleed, bloat, appetite, swallow, all
5. Pain Symptoms are abdominal, back, chest, joint, headache, urinary, all types.
6. Body Systems Symptoms are balance, sexual, sleep, speech, temperature, urinary, walking.
7. Skin Symptoms are rash, color change, texture change, all skin.
8. Mental Symptoms are behavior, concentration, coordination, developmental.
9. Body Organ Symptoms are bladder, bleeding, breathing, digest, heart, nerve.

DIAGNOSIS OF RETROVIRUS-ASSOCIATED MYELOPATHY

Tropical Spastic Parapares is usually a progressive neurological disorder but it is rarely fatal. Most patients live for several decades after the diagnosis. Their prognosis improves if they take steps to prevent urinary tract infection and skin sore formation, and if they enroll in physical and occupational therapy programs.

TREATMENT OF RETROVIRUS-ASSOCIATED MYELOPATHY

1. There is no fixed treatment program for Tropical Spastic Paraparesis although some patients may be given steroids.
2. Clinical studies using interferon alpha and plasmapheresis have not shown significant patient improvement.
3. Spasticity may be treated with lioresal or tizanidine. Urinary dysfunction should be treated with self-catheterization or oxybutynin.
4. A current trial with interferon beta 1a is underway.