Lathyrism
Lathyrism is a condition caused by eating certain legumes of the genus Lathyrus. There are three types of lathyrism: neurolathyrism, osteolathyrism, and angiolathyrism, all of which are incurable, differing in their symptoms and in the body tissues affected.
| Lathyrism | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Toxicology |
| Symptoms | Weakness, fatigue, paralysis of the legs, atrophy of leg muscles, and skeletal deformities |
| Usual onset | Gradual |
| Duration | Permanent |
| Types | Neurolathyrism Osteolathyrism Angiolathyrism |
| Causes | Overconsumption of Legumes containing ODAP (neurolathyrism) or beta-aminopropionitrile (angio- and osteolathyrism) |
| Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms and diet |
| Treatment | Supportive care |
| Frequency | Rare |
Neurolathyrism is the type associated with the consumption of legumes in the genus Lathyrus that contain the toxin ODAP. ODAP ingestion results in motor neuron death. The result is paralysis and muscle atrophy of the lower limbs. Osteolathyrism, a different type of lathyrism, affects the connective tissues, not the motor neurons. Osteolathyrism results from the ingestion of Lathyrus odoratus seeds (sweet peas), and is often referred to as odoratism. It is caused by a different toxin, beta-aminopropionitrile, which affects the linking of the subunits of collagen, a major structural protein found in connective tissue. A third type of lathyrism is angiolathyrism, which is similar to osteolathyrism in its mechanism, employing the toxin beta-aminopropionitrile. The blood vessels are affected, as opposed to bone.