Can hereditary spastic paraplegia be misdiagnosed?

Can hereditary spastic paraplegia be misdiagnosed?

Symptoms gradually get worse over time. It’s also known as familial spastic paraparesis or Strümpell-Lorrain syndrome. It’s difficult to know exactly how many people have hereditary spastic paraplegia because it’s often misdiagnosed. Estimates range from 1 in 11,000 people to 1 in 77,000 people.

Is Hereditary spastic paraplegia life threatening?

People with spastic paraplegia type 49 can develop recurrent episodes of severe weakness, hypotonia, and abnormal breathing, which can be life threatening.

Can a person with spastic paraplegia walk?

The primary symptom of HSP is difficulty walking due to weakness and tightness (spasticity) in the legs. Both legs are affected, usually to a relatively similar degree. The term “paraplegia” means severe weakness in both legs including paralysis.

Is Hereditary spastic paraplegia painful?

The pain is not directly due to HSP itself but is instead often caused by muscle weakness and gait abnormalities resulting from HSP. As certain muscles become weaker, other muscles need to compensate for that weakness. Compensatory measures create an awkward gait that causes strain on many muscles and joints.

Is HSP a disability?

The prognosis for individuals with HSP varies Some individuals are very disabled and others have only mild disability. The majority of individuals with uncomplicated HSP have a normal life expectancy. The prognosis for individuals with HSP varies Some individuals are very disabled and others have only mild disability.

Is spastic paraplegia a disability?

HSP refers to a group of inherited neurologic disorders that cause progressive weakness and spasticity, or stiffness, in the lower extremities, mostly the leg and hip muscles. The long-term prognosis for people diagnosed with HSP varies: Some become very disabled, while others experience only mild disability.

Can spastic paraplegia be cured?

There are no specific treatments to prevent, slow, or reverse HSP. Symptomatic treatments used for spasticity, such as muscle relaxants, are sometimes helpful. Regular physical therapy is important for muscle strength and to preserve range of motion. There are no specific treatments to prevent, slow, or reverse HSP.

What is the treatment for spastic paraplegia?

Treatment is exclusively symptomatic and aimed mainly at reducing muscle spasticity and urinary urgency, and improving strength and gait. Therapeutic options include physical therapy, oral antispastic drugs (baclofen, progabide, dalfampridine), botulinum toxin therapy, and surgical baclofen pump implantation.

What causes spastic paraparesis?

Tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) TSP is a disease of the nervous system that causes weakness, stiffness, and muscle spasms of the legs. It’s caused by the human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). TSP is also known as HTLV-1 associated myelopathy (HAM).

How many types of spastic paraplegia are there?

These disorders are characterized by progressive muscle stiffness (spasticity) and the development of paralysis of the lower limbs (paraplegia). Hereditary spastic paraplegias are divided into two types: pure and complex. The pure types involve the lower limbs.