[Pathophysiology, treatment and biomarkers for HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP)]

HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a rare neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system caused by infection with human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1). HAM/TSP is characterized by chronic inflammation in spinal cord, leading to neurodegeneration and consequently the patients with HAM/TSP suffer from unremitting myelopathic symptoms such as spastic paraparesis, lower limb sensory disturbance, and bladder/bowel dysfunction. In the past quarter century since the discovery of this disease, significant advances have been made in the field of HAM/TSP research. Here we summarize current clinical and pathophysiological knowledge on HAM/TSP and discusses future focus areas for research on this disease.