Visual Evoked Potential Findings in HTLV1 Assoaciated Myelopathy (Tropical spastic Para paresis) in Arya and 22 Bahman Hospitals During Years 2004-2005

Inrtroduction: HTLV1 Virus, is a member of the lentovirus Family. It is considered to be endemic in khorasan state (northfastern of Iran). Myelopathy and T cell leukemia are well know complications of this viruse. In this study, frequency of neurological symptoms and their relationship with VEP findingd as a diagnostic tool has been evaluated. 30 infected pationts with HTLV1 virus who had myelophthy enrolled in this study. After complete neorological examination, VEP Test was performed for them.Rusults: Mean age of patients was 42.5. The most frequent sign was increased patellar refiex (66.71%), dysesthesia (65.4%) hyposthesia (46.7%) and urinary problems (42.3%). Abnormal VEP findings was detected in 23.3% of patients. abnormal VEP findings in about 23% of Patients indicates that in addition to myelopaty other parts of CNS are also involved in TSP. It seems that VEP like demyelinative disorders could be a useful tool in diagnosis and evaluation of these patiants.