NEW FINDINGS AND SYMPTOMATIC TREATMENT FOR NEUROLATHYRISM, A MOTOR-NEURON DISEASE OCCURRING IN NORTH-WEST BANGLADESH

Neurolathyrism is a form of spastic paraparesis caused by the neuroexc itatory amino acid 3-N-oxalyl-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid (beta-ODAP) present in the seeds and foliage of Lathyrus sativus. The disease is i rreversible and usually nonprogressive. Tolperisone HCl, a centrally a cting muscle relaxant, has been shown to reduce significantly the spas ticity in neurolathyrism patients. Sporadic occurrence of HTLV-1 infec tion (0.9%) and of osteolathyrism was found among the neurolathyrism p atients. Osteolathyrism is linked to the consumption of the green shoo ts of Lathyrus sativus.