Post-polio syndrome
Post-polio syndrome (PPS, or post-poliomyelitis syndrome or post-polio sequelae) is a condition that affects polio survivors years after their recovery from an initial acute attack of the poliovirus.[1] It is characterized by new and progressive muscular weakness, pain, and fatigue that becomes apparent many years after the occurrence of acute paralytic or non-paralytic polio.[2]
Signs and symptoms[edit | edit source]
These include the following:[2][3]
- Fatigue (both general and muscular)
- Muscle weakness
- Muscle pain
- Gait disturbance
- Respiratory problems
- Swallowing problems (dysphagia)
- Autonomic dysfunction
- Sleep apnea
- Flat-back syndrome
Incidence and prevalence[edit | edit source]
The exact incidence and prevalence of postpolio syndrome (PPS) is unknown and statistics vary. Medscape reports the incidence in previous acute polio patients ranges from approximately 22-68%.[2] The NIH estimates that the condition affects 25 to 40 percent of polio survivors.[1] In 1992, a study of former poliomyelitis patients from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania estimates 28.5% of all paralytic polio cases develop PPS.[4] Suggestions have been made that 100% of polio survivors, if tracked for a long period, can develop some symptoms of PPS.[2]
ME/CFS[edit | edit source]
- In 1998 polio expert Richard Bruno, along with colleagues, reviewed the clinical findings in PPS and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). They found significant parallels which suggested a possible common pathophysiology.[5]
- In 2014 a Swedish clinician, using Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), compared the quality of life in 124 patients with PPS and 100 patients with ME/CFS. Results indicated that both groups have lower quality of life than Swedish controls, and that ME/CFS patients had a lower quality of life compared with PPS patients.[6]
- A study in 2019, using the self-reporting questionnaires, DePaul Symptom Questionnaire 2 (DSQ-2) and Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), found that participants with ME/CFS were more functionally impaired across symptoms than those with PPS.[7] Additionally, the study found that the three domains that most commonly differentiated ME/CFS from PPS were neurocognitive, post-exertional malaise, and neuroendocrine.[7]
Research studies[edit | edit source]
- 1998, Parallels between post-polio fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome: a common pathophysiology?[5] - (Abstract)
- 2014, Comparison of quality of life in patients with post-polio syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome with Swedish norm[6] - (Abstract)
- 2019, Differentiating post-polio syndrome from myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome[7] - (Abstract)
See also[edit | edit source]
Learn more[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Post-Polio Syndrome Fact Sheet | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke". ninds.nih.gov. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Postpolio Syndrome: Practice Essentials, Pathophysiology, Epidemiology". November 14, 2019.
- ↑ "Post-Polio Syndrome Information Page | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke". ninds.nih.gov. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
- ↑ Ramlow, J.; Alexander, M.; LaPorte, R.; Kaufmann, C.; Kuller, L. (October 1, 1992). "Epidemiology of the Post-Polio Syndrome". American Journal of Epidemiology. 136 (7): 769–786. doi:10.1093/aje/136.7.769. ISSN 0002-9262.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bruno, Richard L; Creange, Susan J; Frick, Nancy M (September 28, 1998). "Parallels between post-polio fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome: a common pathophysiology?". The American Journal of Medicine. 105 (3, Supplement 1): 66S–73S. doi:10.1016/S0002-9343(98)00161-2. ISSN 0002-9343.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Östlund, G. (May 2014). "Comparison of quality of life in patients with post-polio syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome with Swedish norm". Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. 57: e99. doi:10.1016/j.rehab.2014.03.340.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Klebek, Lauren; Sunnquist, Madison; Jason, Leonard A. (October 2, 2019). "Differentiating post-polio syndrome from myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome". Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior. 7 (4): 196–206. doi:10.1080/21641846.2019.1687117. ISSN 2164-1846.
