In a review of the roentgenological files of 22 patients suffering from spastic paraplegia due to neurolathyrism, 3 patients were found to present abnormal skeletal findings. 2 patients showed absence of union of the secondary ossification centres of the iliac crests, the ischial tuberosities and the vertebral bodies. Their age at the time of ingestion of poisonous Lathyrus sativus plants was 19 and 20 years. The 3rd patient had bowing and thickening of his right femoral shaft. He was 22 years old at the time of poisoning. These findings which are similar to those found in experimental osteolathyrism have never been described in clinical neurolathyrism. They are of a nature to throw some doubt on the correctness of the currently prevailing concept of sharp distinction between these two pathological entities.

No abstract