Study of lower limb somatosensory evoked potentials in 96 cases of HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis

Sensory Dysfunction in HTLV-I-Associated Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis

“…In another series [12], we found abnormal SSEPs in 86.3% of HAM/TSP patients, which is in keeping with a pathological study in Chilean patients showing, in addition to the degeneration of the pyramidal tract, degeneration of the dorsal columns without histological abnormalities in the nerve roots, median, sural and sciatic nerves [3]. Moritoyo et al [18]examined 96 HAM/TSP patients with tibial SSEPs and found abnormal central sensory conduction time in 42 of them. In addition to the posterior column impairment, pain-related SSEPs following CO 2 laser stimulation have shown a reduction in the conduction velocity of the spinothalamic tract in 9 of 19 patients with HAM/TSP [19], although some authors have postulated that this kind of evoked potential does not test the function of a specific sensory pathway [20].…”

AAEM minimonograph 19: Somatosensory evoked potentials

“…In human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis, lower-limb SEPs may provide important information; central sensory conduction time correlates with disability and may reveal subclinical lesions of afferent pathways. 83 Lower-limb SEPs may be unrecordable in patients with Pott's paraplegia. 82 Brain stem lesions.…”

NEUROLOGICAL ASPECTS OF TROPICAL DISEASE: HTLV-1 and HIV infections of the central nervous system in tropical areas

“…Most patients with HAM/TSP also show an intrathecal immune response against HTLV-1 synthetic peptides (especially against HTLV-1 env gp21 synthetic peptides)83 contrasting with a poor polyspecific one against common viruses as seen in multiple sclerosis. Lower limb somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) studies detect unilateral or bilateral sensory spinal cord lesions in many patients with HAM/TSP 84. The most useful neurophysiological parameter seems to be the central sensory conduction time, which correlates well with disability score 84.…”

“…Lower limb somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) studies detect unilateral or bilateral sensory spinal cord lesions in many patients with HAM/TSP 84. The most useful neurophysiological parameter seems to be the central sensory conduction time, which correlates well with disability score 84. Experience with brainstem auditory evoked potentials supports a supraspinal involvment in some HAM/TSP patients.…”