Chronic myelopathies associated with human T-lymphotropic virus type I. A clinical, serologic, and immunovirologic study of ten patients in France.

Abstract

Chronic myelopathy associated with human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) has been described in HTLV-I endemic areas. In Paris, 167 neurologic patients were screened for HTLV-I by enzyme-linked immunosorbent, indirect immunofluorescent, and Western blot assays. Ten of the 11 patients with positive results had a chronic spastic paraparesis with IgG oligoclonal bands and elevated HTLV-I antibody index. Two of them had been born and were living in France, without HTLV-I risk factors. Evoked potentials were abnormal in the nine tested patients and brain magnetic resonance images in three of seven patients. No improvement was observed with steroid treatment. A retrovirus similar to HTLV-I was isolated in five cases at different periods of the disease. Hypotheses of limited endemic areas in western countries are discussed. Early presence and persistence of HTLV-I suggest that it is the etiologic agent.

• Authors: O Gout, A Gessain, F Bolgert, F Saal, E Tournier-Lasserve, J Lasneret, C Caudie, P Brunet, G De-Thé, F Lhermitte
• Journal: Archives of neurology (Arch Neurol) Vol. 46 Issue 3 Pg. 255-60 (Mar 1989) ISSN: 0003-9942 [Print] United States
• PMID: 2919977 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• HTLV-I Antibodies

Topics

• Adult
• Female
• France
• HTLV-I Antibodies (analysis)
• HTLV-I Infections (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, complications, immunology, pathology)
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Spinal Cord Diseases (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, complications, diagnosis)