Hereditary spastic paraplegias

Hereditary spastic paraplegias represent a group of hereditary neurodegenerative disorders predominantly affecting corticospinal tracts which manifest with prominent spasticity and reduced power in the muscles of the lower limbs. According to clinical signs hereditary spastic paraplegias are divided into uncomplicated (classic) and complicated forms, according to the nature of inheritance – into autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive and X-linked. Mechanisms of the development of hereditary spastic paraplegias depend on the form and could be associated with misfolding of the proteins in endoplasmatic reticulum, mitochondrial dysfunction, changes in the cholesterol metabolism etc. Diagnosis is made after exclusion of other disorders of the central nervous system and could be confirmed by molecular genetic methods. Treatment of hereditary spastic paraplegias is symptomatic.