[The concept of tropical neuromyelopathy]

Since the beginning of this century, the concept of tropical neuromyelopathy (T. N. M.) was progressively elaborated in tropical areas. This disorder is constituted by three main clinical syndromes (e.g.: polyneuropathy, spastic paraplegia, ataxia). Abnormal clinical, electrophysiological and pathological features, observed in all clinical forms argue in favor of a diffuse pathobiological process of the nervous system. The association with positive HTLV-1 serology, has recently induced a great interest for the spastic forms of T. N. M. Tropical spastic paraplegia tend to be individualized. This attitude differs from the global concept of T. N. M. which allows gathering similar clinical syndromes. This T. N. M. group should be kept intact until the discovery of new etiologies. Toxic (manioc, lathyrism) or deficiency (hypovitaminosis, malabsorption) causes are incriminated. Otherwise etiologies are unknown.