What is spastic paraplegia type 3A?
Spastic paraplegia type 3A is part of a group of genetic disorders known as hereditary spastic paraplegias. These disorders are characterized by progressive muscle stiffness (spasticity) and the development of paralysis of the lower limbs (paraplegia). Hereditary spastic paraplegias are divided into two types: pure and complex. The pure types involve only the lower limbs, whereas the complex types also involve the upper limbs (to a lesser degree) and the nervous system. Spastic paraplegia type 3A is a pure hereditary spastic paraplegia. In addition to the usual muscle stiffness and weakness characteristic of the hereditary spastic paraplegias, people with spastic paraplegia type 3A can also experience progressive muscle wasting (amyotrophy) in the lower limbs, reduced bladder control, and an abnormal curvature of the spine (scoliosis). The signs and symptoms of spastic paraplegia type 3A usually appear in the first decade of life. The condition progresses very slowly, and some people m
