HTLV-1 associated myelopathy in Canada.
We report the clinical and laboratory findings of six Canadian patients with progressive myelopathy associated with HTLV-1 infection. The diagnosis was suspected on clinical grounds and supported by serological studies and positive gene amplification. Only five had emigrated from an area endemic for HTLV-1 infection. Tropical spastic paraparesis should be considered in all patients with myelopathy, even those without standard serological markers of HTLV-1 infection. The pathogenesis of this condition and the serological and molecular biological means by which this diagnosis can be made are reviewed.
Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University of Western Ontario, University Hospital, London, Canada.
C
C
Power
B G
BG
Weinshenker
G A
GA
Dekaban
G C
GC
Ebers
G S
GS
Francis
G P
GP
Rice
D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
D004279:DNA, Viral