In Rio de Janeiro (RJ) most cases of paraparesis of obscure origin are associated with the human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV‐I). Thirty‐four consecutive patients with HTLV‐I‐associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) from RJ were evaluated. Most patients came from low socio‐economic levels. There was no difference in terms of gender. The main affected racial group was white. A history of sexually transmitted diseases was a major risk factor for HAM/TSP and a positive serology for syphilis was found in 26.5% of the patients. The major clinical findings were of a spastic paraparesis with generalized brisk tendon jerks and bilateral Babinki's sign. Sensation was abnormal in 25 patients (73.5%) and five (14.7%) had a sensory level. Three patients (8.8%) had optic atrophy. The cerebrospinal fluid showed a lymphocytic pleocytosis with a mean total protein content of 0.4 g/litre, and an increased intrathecal IgG synthesis in 59.4% of patients. HAM/TSP and multiple sclerosis (MS) occur indigenously in RJ and some HAM/TSP cases can be sometimes confused with MS. Therefore we propose that, in places where MS coexist with HAM/TSP, HTLV‐I antibodies should be sought routinely in those MS suspected cases with prominent spastic paraparesis.

Segawa's disease (SD) is a hereditary progressive dystonia with marked diurnal fluctuation with onset in childhood or adolescence and a striking responsiveness to L-dopa. Here we describe a typical case of SD in a 28 year old woman whose disease begun at the age of 18 years. This patient had a second cousin with probable hereditary spastic paraplegia (Strumpell's familiar spastic paraplegia) who had no benefit on a recent L-dopa trial. Due to this family history our patient had been misdiagnosed as Strumpell's disease for more than 10 years. There was no other apparent case of SD in the family. Her father had an atypical gait but was otherwise normal. Her daughter had motor developmental delay due to hypotonia. Pes cavus was a common feature to the patient, her father and her cousin.

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