[Tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) in different regions of the world. Subclinical and geographic differences in neurophysiologic studies].

Tropical spastic paraparesis is the same clinical entity all over the world. It has been suggested that some clinical presentation differences are due to not well defined environmental factors that act along with the virus, modifying the start and progression of the disease. We analyzed 25 publications on the disease coming from different parts of the world, aiming to unravel regional differences. In these reports, we found different degrees of subclinical abnormalities in visual and somatosensory evoked potentials, nerve conduction studies, superior and inferior limb F wave and electromyography. It is concluded that genetic, environmental and even cultural factors may influence the clinical presentation of tropical spastic paraparesis and explain the detected differences in the reports analyzed in this study.