title: [HTLV-I retrovirus in Chile: study on 140 neurological patients].
abstract: We screened 140 patients with different neurological diseases for the presence of anti HTLV-1 virus antibodies. ELISA test confirmed with Western Blot analysis was performed in CSF and blood. Positive findings were obtained in 23 out of 52 patients with progressive spastic paraparesis (44%). All patients with multiple sclerosis, polymyositis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or chronic polyneuropathy were negative. Patients with progressive spastic paraparesis and positive HTLV-1 antibodies were most commonly women (78%) and middle aged (mean 46 years old), with a history of surgical interventions (70%) or blood transfusion (35%). A slowly progressive spastic paraparesis with asymmetric onset and minimal sensory complaints was observed in some cases. Mononuclear pleocytosis in the CSF was observed in 35% with an increased IgG index in 88%. A delayed latency and low amplitude of somatosensory evoked potentials was observed in 89% of patients.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Neurológicas, Hospital Salvador, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cartier
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Araya
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verdugo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Gajdusek
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Gibbs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002677:Chile; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies
vernacular_title: Retrovirus HTLV-1 en Chile: estudio en 140 enfermos neurológicos.