Brazilian studies on tropical spastic paraparesis: a meta-analysis

Tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) is a chronic progressive myelopathy and in most of the cases has a retroviral (HTLV-1) etiology, when it is denominated HTLV-1 associated-mielopathy (HAM/TSP). Around 433 cases of TSP have been described in Northeast and Southeast Brazil. Among these cases, 157 (36.2%) are HTLV-1 positive and 276 (63.7%) are negative. Their mean age is 43.8 years with a slight predominance of females and mulattoes, although white patients are also numerous. Clinically all patients exhibit a spastic paraparesis with variable sphincter and sensory disturbance. Pain and autonomic symptoms seem to be expressive in the HTLV-1 positive HAM/TSP Brazilian patients.