title: HTLV-1 and myelopathy in Salvador (northeastern Brazil): a case control study.
abstract: The principal aim of the study was to determine the degree of association between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that is positive for HTLV-1 and myelopathy in Salvador, Brazil. From the same hospital, twenty-eight cases of myelopathy and twenty-eight cases showing no neurological disorder were studied using blind selection matched 1:1 by age and sex. The twenty-eight pairs underwent HTLV-1 serology tests. In those with a positive result, anti-HTLV-1 antibodies were investigated in the CSF. The ELISA method was used, complemented by the Western-blot test. Myelopathy was considered associated with HTLV-1 only when the CSF was positive indicating neurotropism of the virus. The mean age of the cases was 44.6 +/- 15.6 years and the control group was 43.5 +/- 16.0 (p > 0.05). An OR of 9.0 was detected with a reliability interval (95%) of 1.652-48.866 and chi-square significant at the 0.02 level. Despite a strong degree of association and considering the low level of precision, there is a need for analytical studies with larger samples which besides improving the precision will allow for greater control of the confounding variables.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Brasil.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lessa
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Melo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies