Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I and neurologic disease in Panama, 1985 and 1986.
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) causes adult T-cell leukemia and has recently been associated with HTLV-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis. The HTLV-I is endemic throughout the Caribbean basin and parts of South America, and HTLV-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis also seems to be common in this area. This 2-year study, 1985 and 1986, was designed to evaluate the occurrence of HTLV-I infection in all newly diagnosed cases of selected neurologic diseases in Panama City, Panama. Six (8%) of 71 patients had antibody to HTLV-I detected by immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, radioimmunoassay, and Western blot assays; 5 patients' conditions were diagnosed as spastic paraparesis, and all 5 were seropositive and also had HTLV-I antibody in cerebrospinal fluid. The remaining seropositive patient had multiple sclerosis, and no antibody was detected in her cerebrospinal fluid. Clinical and electrophysiologic studies indicated that HTLV-I-associated spastic paraparesis is a multifocal, primarily demyelinating disease that principally involves the spinal cord.
Gracia
F
F
Neurology Service, Santo Tomas Hospital, Panama City, Panama.
Reeves
W C
WC
Levine
P H
PH
Cuevas
M
M
Castillo
L
L
Chavarría
R
R
Grimaldo
V
V
Triana
E
E
Arosemena
J R
JR
Blattner
W A
WA
D000328:Adult; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010176:Panama / Q000453:epidemiology; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D010375:Pedigree
D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies