HTLV-I-associated myelopathy in a patient with adult T-cell leukemia.
Disseminated erythematous papules and plaques developed in a 60-year-old man 3 years before the appearance of neurologic manifestations. A biopsy specimen of the plaque revealed Pautrier's microabscess and a dense mononuclear cell infiltration with atypical convoluted nuclei in the papillary dermis. These cells were helper/inducer T lymphocytes that expressed the interleukin 2 receptor. The patient's white blood cell count was normal, but 1% atypical lymphocytes and a high titer of anti-human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-I antibody were detected in his serum. A smoldering type of adult T-cell leukemia was diagnosed. While he was being treated with PUVA, a gait disturbance developed. A high titer of anti-HTLV-I antibody, characteristic of HTLV-I-associated myelopathy, was demonstrated in his cerebrospinal fluid.
Yasui
C
C
Department of Dermatology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
Fukaya
T
T
Koizumi
H
H
Kobayashi
H
H
Ohkawara
A
A
D006801:Humans; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000150:complications*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology