Tropical spastic paraparesis treated with Combivir (lamivudine-zidovudine).

Tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) or human T-cell leukemia virus-type 1 (HTLV-I)-associated myelopathy is caused by human T-lymphotropic virus type 1. It is a slow, progressive spastic paraparesis with significant morbidity and causing profound repercussions on quality of life. No therapies have been found to persistently improve the outcome in these patients. We present a patient with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/TSP (HAM/TSP) who was treated with Combivir (lamivudine-zidovudine, GlaxoSmithKline, London, UK). She was walker-dependent for several years but, soon after treatment with lamivudine-zidovudine, was able to walk using only a cane. The role of lamivudine-zidovudine should be investigated further in this patient population.