Human neurolathyrism, a follow-up study of 200 patients. Part I: Clinical investigation.
Ključne besede
Povzetek
Two hundred patients with chronic neurolathyrism were clinically examined, 25 to 35 years after exposure to the lathyrus sativus pea. All the patients were prisoners in a labour camp under similar nutritional and physical conditions at the outbreak of the syndome. The main symptoms were spastic paraparesis and a neurogenic bladder, both of varying degree. In addition lower motor neuron involvement with muscular atrophies was noticed in 14 cases and simulated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A lathyric sensory neuropathy was found in 12 patients. No cranial lesions or psychiatric disorders were found. Laboratory tests including 5 CSF specimens were normal. HLA typing was unremarkable. Our overall impression was that chronic neurolathyrism in the long run shows a gradually slow progressive course.