Effect of VPA on HAM/TSP patients
| Patient code . | Age, y . | Duration of TSP, y . | Duration of VPA treatment, d . | Seric concentration of VPA at day 15, μg/mL . | DSS score (at day) . | 8 meters walking time (at day) . | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 . | 30 . | 60 . | 0 . | 15 . | 60 . | |||||
| HAM-1 | 58 | 7 | 21 | 58.2 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 12 | 15 | 12 |
| HAM-2 | 70 | 11 | 30 | 45.9 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 60 | 106 | 69 |
| HAM-3 | 55 | 19 | 60 | 93.1 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 19 | 24 | 21 |
| HAM-4 | 75 | 11 | 60 | 71.4 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | ND | ND | ND |
| Patient code . | Age, y . | Duration of TSP, y . | Duration of VPA treatment, d . | Seric concentration of VPA at day 15, μg/mL . | DSS score (at day) . | 8 meters walking time (at day) . | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 . | 30 . | 60 . | 0 . | 15 . | 60 . | |||||
| HAM-1 | 58 | 7 | 21 | 58.2 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 12 | 15 | 12 |
| HAM-2 | 70 | 11 | 30 | 45.9 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 60 | 106 | 69 |
| HAM-3 | 55 | 19 | 60 | 93.1 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 19 | 24 | 21 |
| HAM-4 | 75 | 11 | 60 | 71.4 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | ND | ND | ND |
VPA was taken orally by 4 volunteers with tropical spastic paraparesis at a dose of 20 mg/kg of weight per day for 3 (HAM-1), 4 (HAM-2), or 8 (HAM-3 and HAM-4) weeks. The steady-state seric concentrations of VPA in micrograms per milliliter were measured at day 15. All HAM/TSP patients had experienced mobility impairments for 7 to 19 years, and, as indicated, their DSS scores (expanded disability status scale) were between 5 and 7.5. A more sensitive estimation of mobility was calculated based on the time (in seconds) required to walk more than 8 meters. ND indicates not determined.