Spastic paraplegia 20- autosomal recessive

December 31, 2014

Overview

Spastic paraplegia 20, autosomal recessive: A rare disorder characterized mainly by progressive stiffness, weakness and wasting of the lower leg muscles. The thumb muscle and speech is also affected

Symptoms

Dysarthria Wasted muscles in extremities Walking difficulty Lower leg stiffness Lower leg contractures

Causes

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) ALS commonly produces spasticity, spasms, coarse fasciculations, hyperactive deep tendon reflexes (DTRs), and a positive Babinski’s sign. Earlier effects include progressive muscle weakness and flaccidity that typically begin in the hands and arms and eventually spread to the trunk, neck, larynx, pharynx, and legs; progressive respiratory muscle weakness leads to respiratory insufficiency. Other findings include dysphagia, dysarthria, excessive drooling, and depression. TopEpidural hemorrhage With epidural hemorrhage, bilateral limb spasticity is a late and ominous sign. Other findings include a momentary loss of consciousness after head trauma, followed by a lucid interval and then a rapid deterioration in the level of consciousness (LOC). The patient may also develop unilateral hemiparesis or hemiplegia; seizures; fixed, dilated pupils; a high fever; a decreased and bounding pulse; a widened pulse pressure; elevated blood pressure; an irregular respiratory pattern; and decerebrate posture. A positive Babinski’s sign can be elicited. TopSpinal cord injury Spasticity commonly results from cervical and high thoracic spinal cord injury, especially from incomplete lesions. Spastic paralysis in the affected limbs follows initial flaccid paralysis; typically, spasticity and muscle atrophy increase for up to 1¼ to 2 years after the injury, and then gradually regress to flaccidity. Associated signs and symptoms vary with the level of injury, but may include respiratory insufficiency or paralysis, sensory losses, bowel and bladder dysfunction, hyperactive DTRs, a positive Babinski’s sign, sexual dysfunction, priapism, hypotension, anhidrosis, and bradycardia.

Prognosis

The 'prognosis' of Spastic paraplegia 20, autosomal recessive usually refers to the likely outcome of Spastic paraplegia 20, autosomal recessive. The prognosis of Spastic paraplegia 20, autosomal recessive may include the duration of Spastic paraplegia 20, autosomal recessive, chances of complications of Spastic paraplegia 20, autosomal recessive, probable outcomes, prospects for recovery, recovery period for Spastic paraplegia 20, autosomal recessive, survival rates, death rates, and other outcome possibilities in the overall prognosis of Spastic paraplegia 20, autosomal recessive. Naturally, such forecast issues are by their nature unpredictable.