Urinary dysfunction in tropical spastic paraparesis: preliminary urodynamic survey

Tropical spastic paraparesis is an infection caused by human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). We present the urodynamic findings in 4 female and 1 male patient with tropical spastic paraparesis. All patients underwent synchronous video-pressure-flow urodynamics, while 3 also underwent electromyographic examination. Of the 5 patients 4 presented with detrusor external sphincter dyssynergia and 1 had detrusor hyperreflexia with a coordinated sphincter contraction. The preliminary results of this series suggest that patients with tropical spastic paraparesis and voiding symptoms should undergo urodynamic examination so that diagnosis and appropriate therapy may be instituted.