Spastic paraplegia 8

The following summary is from Orphanet, a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs.

A pure or complex form of hereditary spastic paraplegia characterized by a childhood to adulthood onset of slowly progressive lower limb spasticity resulting in gait disturbances, hyperreflexia and extensor plantar responses, that may be associated with complicating signs, such as upper limb involvement, sensory neuropathy, ataxia (i.e. mild dysmetria, uncoordinated eye movement) and mild dysphagia. Additional symptoms, including urinary urgency and/or incontinence, muscle weakness, decreased vibration sense and mild muscular atrophy in lower extremities, may also be associated.

Visit the Orphanet disease page for more resources.

Last updated: 2/1/2019

Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.