title: HTLV-I associated myelopathy in patients from Brazil and Iran: neurological manifestations and cerebrospinal fluid findings.
abstract: We analysed sera and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 20 cases of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type (HTLV-I) associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) from Brazil and Iran and as controls, 16 Brazilian HTLVI seronegative individuals afflicted with other neurological diseases. It was observed in the HAM/TSP patients that: 1) all had an inflammatory reaction within the central nervous system (CNS); 2) 95% (19/20) showed oligoclonal bands reflecting intrathecal IgG synthesis; 3) 85% (17/20) presented a local synthesis of HTLVI antibodies; 4) 35% (7/20) had a measurable immunoglobulin (Ig) synthesis within the CNS. The CSF parameters of the HAM/TSP were compared with the clinical data (age at onset, duration of disease and disability level). Our data prove that CSF analysis is important for the diagnosis of HAM/TSP. There is no association between the severity of the disease and CSF findings.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
chemical_list: D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G