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Tropical spastic paraparesis in an Aborigine
Author(s) -
Rajabalendaran Nadarajah,
Burns Richard,
Mollison Lindsay C,
Blessing William,
Kirubakaran Meshach G,
Lindschau Peter
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1993.tb137700.x
Subject(s) - tropical spastic paraparesis , myelopathy , medicine , weakness , population , surgery , spinal cord , psychiatry , environmental health
Objective To present the first documented case of human T‐lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV‐I) associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis in the Australian population. Clinical features A 31‐year‐old Aboriginal man with an 18‐month history of progressive weakness of the legs was found to have an upper motor neurone weakness of all limbs associated with sphincteric disturbance and impotence. HTLV‐I antibodies were detected in his serum and no other cause for the patient's myelopathy could be found. Intervention and outcome He was counselled regarding HTLV‐I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis. Conclusion This is the first description of HTLV‐I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis in an Australian. In cases of spinal cord disorder without evidence of compression we recommend serological testing for HTLV‐I, especially in Aboriginal patients. Additionally, testing of blood donors for this retrovirus needs consideration.