New findings and symptomatic treatment for neurolathyrism, a motor neuron disease occurring in north West Bangladesh

Abstract

Neurolathyrism is a form of spastic paraparesis caused by the neuroexcitatory amino acid 3-N-oxalyl-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid (f3-0DAP) present in the seeds and foliage of Lathyrus sativus. The disease is irreversible and usually nonprogressive. Tolperisone HCI, a centrally acting muscle relaxant, has been shown to reduce significantly the spasticity in neurolathyrism patients. Sporadic occurrence of HTLV-l infection (0.9%) and of osteolathyrism was found among the neurolathyrism patients. Osteolathyrism is linked to the consumption of the green shoots of Lathyrus sativus. © 1994 International Medical Society of Paraplegia.