Abstract
Neurolathyrism is a form of spastic paraparesis caused by the neuroexcitatory amino acid 3-N-oxalyl-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid (β-ODAP) present in the seeds and foliage of Lathyrus sativus. The disease is irreversible and usually nonprogressive. Tolperisone HC1, a centrally acting muscle relaxant, has been shown to reduce significantly the spasticity in neurolathyrism patients. Sporadic occurrence of HTLV-1 infection (0.9%) and of osteolathyrism was found among the neurolathyrism patients. Osteolathyrism is linked to the consumption of the green shoots of Lathyrus sativus.
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Haque, A., Hossain, M., Khan, J. et al. New findings and symptomatic treatment for neurolathyrism, a motor neuron disease occurring in North West Bangladesh. Spinal Cord 32, 193–195 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1994.35
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1994.35