HSP is a term for a group of rare, inherited neurologic disorders along the motor neuron disease continuum. Their primary symptom is progressive spasticity (stiffness) and weakness of the leg and hip muscles. There are thought to be about 30 different types of HSP. The genetic causes are known for eleven.

The condition is characterized by insidiously progressive lower extremity weakness and spasticity. HSP is classified as "uncomplicated" or "pure" if neurologic impairment is limited to the lower body. HSP is classified as "complicated" ("complex") if the impairment is accompanied by other system involvement or other neurologic findings such as seizures, dementia, amyotrophy, extrapyramidal disturbance, or peripheral neuropathy in the absence of other disorders such as diabetes mellitus.

There are many different names used for HSP. The most common are Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (or Paraparesis), Familial Spastic Paraparesis (or Paraplegia) and Strümpell-Lorrain Disease. Others are Spastic Paraplegia, Hereditary Charcot-Disease, Spastic Spinal Paralysis, Diplegia Spinalis Progressiva, French Settlement Disease, Troyer syndrome and Silver syndrome.

(Text from the website of the “Spastic Paraplegia Foundation, Inc.” USA)

If you have questions on this section please contact Rudolf Kleinsorge (Germany).