Proposal for diagnostic criteria of tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM)

• Published in: AIDS research and human retroviruses Vol. 22; no. 10; p. 931
• Main Authors: De Castro-Costa, Carlos M, Araújo, Abelardo Q C, Barreto, Márcio M, Takayanagui, Osvaldo M, Sohler, Marzia P, da Silva, Eduardo L M, de Paula, Sônia M B, Ishak, Ricardo, Ribas, João G R, Rovirosa, Luis C, Carton, Herwig, Gotuzzo, Eduardo, Hall, William W, Montano, Silvia, Murphy, Edward L, Oger, Joel, Remondegui, Carlos, Taylor, Graham P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.2006
• Subjects: Adult; Deltaretrovirus Antibodies - immunology; Female; Humans; Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic - diagnosis; Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic - immunology
• ISSN: 0889-2229
• DOI: 10.1089/aid.2006.22.931

After the first description of TSP/HAM in 1985 and the elaboration of WHO's diagnostic criteria in 1988, the experience of the professionals in this field has increased so that a critical reappraisal of these diagnostic guidelines was considered timely. Brazilian neurologists and observers from other countries met recently to discuss and propose a modified model for diagnosing TSP/HAM with levels of ascertainment as definite, probable, and possible, according to myelopathic symptoms, serological findings, and/or detection of HTLV-I DNA and exclusion of other disorders.