Table 3.
Clinical attributes of rapid, slow, and very slow progressors who were defined based on the progression pattern after the onset of HAM/TSP.
| Group R Rapid progressor (n = 66, 15.5%) |
Group SSlow progressor (n = 338, 79.5%) | Group VS Very slow progressor (n = 21, 4.9%) |
p-value | Statistical methods | Groups with significant difference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex: Female | 51 (77.3%) | 255 (75.4%) | 13 (61.9%) | N.S. | (a) | |
| Age at onset∗ | 55.9 ± 11.7 | 43.0 ± 14.0 | 32.4 ± 14.5 | <0.001 | (b) | R > S > VS |
| Age at diagnosis∗ | 58.7 ± 11.0 | 51.1 ± 12.9 | 51.0 ± 13.5 | <0.001 | (b) | R > S, R > VS |
| Age (at present∗∗)∗ | 65.6 ± 9.2 | 61.2 ± 10.6 | 62.1 ± 10.4 | 0.008 | (b) | R > S |
| Diagnosis delay (time from onset to diagnosis)∗ | 2.7 ± 4.3 | 8.1 ± 8.2 | 18.6 ± 12.9 | <0.001 | (b) | R > S > VS |
| Disease duration (time from onset to present)∗ | 9.6 ± 7.7 | 18.2 ± 10.8 | 29.8 ± 10.0 | <0.001 | (b) | R > S > VS |
| Initial symptoms (inclusive) | ||||||
| Gait disturbance | 58 (87.9%) | 277 (82.0%) | 18 (85.7%) | N.S. | (a) | |
| Urinary disturbance | 21 (31.8%) | 145 (42.9%) | 7 (33.3%) | N.S. | (a) | |
| Sensory disturbance (in legs) | 10 (15.2%) | 52 (15.4%) | 2 (9.5%) | N.S. | (a) | |
| Others | 17 (25.8%) | 99 (29.3%) | 7 (33.3%) | N.S. | (a) | |
| OMDS (range: 0−13)∗ | 6.6 ± 2.3 | 5.6 ± 2.2 | 5.4 ± 1.5 | 0.003 | (b) | R > S, R > VS |
| HAQ-DI (range: 0−3)∗ | 1.4 ± 0.6 | 1.1 ± 0.7 | 1.0 ± 0.5 | 0.001 | (b) | R > S, R > VS |
| Family history of HAM/TSP†: Yes | 2 (3.0%) | 36 (10.7%) | 3 (14.3%) | N.S. | (a) | |
| Family history of ATL‡: Yes | 2 (3.0%) | 20 (5.9%) | 1 (4.8%) | N.S. | (a) | |
| History of blood transfusion | ||||||
| Yes (anytime) | 19 (28.8%) | 61 (18.0%) | 2 (9.5%) | N.S. | (a) | |
| Yes, before 1986 | 16 (24.2%) | 51 (15.1%) | 2 (9.5%) | N.S. | (a) |
Statistical methods: (a) By Fisher’s exact test, (b) by analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc tests.
*Data are expressed as mean ± SD, **present is defined as the time of the subject’s initial “HAM-net” interview.
†Family history of HAM/TSP indicates the subject has a first- or second-degree relative with HAM/TSP.
‡Family history of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) indicates the subject has a first- or second degree relative with ATL.
N.S., not significant; OMDS, Osame motor disability score; HAQ-DI, health assessment questionnaire-disability index.