Holman K G
Postgrad Med. 1986 Jun;79(8):44-53. doi: 10.1080/00325481.1986.11699420.
How many of the thousands who contracted polio during the epidemics 30 and 40 years ago will experience post-polio syndrome? What causes these delayed effects, and how quickly will they progress? None of these questions can be answered with certainty. At present, several factors appear to be at work. Patients are generally in one of two groups: The first group has deterioration in the function of muscles that were affected by the disease. This muscle weakness may be caused by a loss of motor neurons, due to aging, from an already depleted neuron pool. The remaining motor units then become stressed from overuse. The second group has problems in new muscle groups or those thought to be recovered from the disease. Problems in the second group appear to have a cause other than simple aging, possibly autoimmune, but longer follow-up is required to assess these patients. Evaluation of post-polio patients should be based on differentiating new neuromuscular disorders from exacerbations of the original disability. Although changes associated with aging cannot be halted, once post-polio syndrome is diagnosed, patients can be encouraged to follow appropriate dietary and exercise programs to maintain their present function, and they can be reassured of the relatively benign course of their problems.
三四十年前在脊髓灰质炎流行期间感染该病的数千人中，有多少人会出现小儿麻痹后遗症？是什么导致了这些延迟出现的症状，它们发展得有多快？这些问题都无法得到确切答案。目前，有几个因素似乎在起作用。患者一般分为两类：第一类是曾受疾病影响的肌肉功能出现衰退。这种肌肉无力可能是由于运动神经元因衰老而从已经耗尽的神经元池中丧失所致。剩余的运动单位随后因过度使用而承受压力。第二类是新的肌肉群或那些被认为已从疾病中恢复的肌肉群出现问题。第二类的问题似乎有除单纯衰老之外的其他原因，可能是自身免疫性的，但需要更长时间的随访来评估这些患者。对小儿麻痹后遗症患者的评估应基于区分新的神经肌肉疾病与原有残疾的加重情况。虽然与衰老相关的变化无法阻止，但一旦诊断出小儿麻痹后遗症，就可以鼓励患者遵循适当的饮食和锻炼计划以维持其目前的功能，并让他们放心其问题的病程相对良性。
