title: Chronic myelopathy associated with human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the clinical, epidemiologic, immunologic, and virologic aspects of the chronic myelopathy associated with human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type I (HTLV-I), currently called tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies done after 1985, when TSP/HAM was first recognized, were identified by a computer search using MEDLARS II and CANCERLIT. Additional information was acquired from personal files and bibliographies of existing literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 400 articles, 90 book chapters, and 150 abstracts from meetings covering all aspects of HTLV-I and neurologic diseases were critically analyzed, and information from 250 publications was included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TSP/HAM is present in most HTLV-I endemic areas, with a prevalence ranging from 5.1 to 128 per 100,000 inhabitants. Up to 20% of patients develop TSP/HAM after transfusion of HTLV-I contaminated blood. Pathologic characteristics indicate a chronic meningomyelitis. The clinical features consist of a chronic progressive spastic paraparesis or paraplegia, sphincter disturbances, and minimal sensory loss. Supraspinal and peripheral nerve involvement is sometimes observed. High titers of HTLV-I-specific antibodies are present in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. The high level of humoral and cellular immunologic response and the association of TSP/HAM with other immunologic diseases suggest an immune-mediated process. Corticosteroids and immunosuppressor treatment usually result in only short-term improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TSP/HAM is a common neurologic disease in many parts of the world. All patients with chronic progressive myelopathies should be tested for serum and cerebrospinal fluid HTLV-I-specific antibodies. Systematic screening of blood donors for HTLV-I is necessary to help prevent the dissemination of the virus and the occurrence of post-transfusional cases.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institues of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gessain
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gout
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology