©The Author(s) 2015. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis: Clinical presentation and pathophysiology
Jean-Pierre Louboutin, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston 7, Jamaica
Author contributions: Louboutin JP wrote the paper.
Conflict-of-interest statement: There is no conflict of interest.
Correspondence to: Jean-Pierre Louboutin, MD, PhD, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston 7, Jamaica. jplouboutin@hotmail.com
Telephone: +1-876-3680554
Received: February 1, 2015
Peer-review started: February 2, 2015
First decision: March 6, 2015
Revised: March 30, 2015
Accepted: July 7, 2015
Article in press: July 8, 2015
Published online: September 28, 2015
Processing time: 241 Days and 13.1 Hours
Peer-review started: February 2, 2015
First decision: March 6, 2015
Revised: March 30, 2015
Accepted: July 7, 2015
Article in press: July 8, 2015
Published online: September 28, 2015
Processing time: 241 Days and 13.1 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a slowly progressive neurodegenerative disorder in which lesions of the central nervous system cause progressive weakness, stiffness, and a lower limb spastic paraparesis. There is no established treatment program for HAM/TSP. Prevention is difficult in low-income patients. Thus, there is a need for new therapeutic avenues that must be based on a better understanding, not only of clinical and clinicopathological data, but also of the pathophysiology of the affection. Consequently, a better understanding of existing or newly developed animal models of HAM/TSP is a prerequisite step in the development of new treatments.