title: Tropical spastic paraparesis in an aborigine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the first documented case of human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis in the Australian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 31-year-old Aboriginal man with an 18-month history of progressive weakness of the legs was found to have an upper motor neurone weakness of all limbs associated with sphincteric disturbance and impotence. HTLV-I antibodies were detected in his serum and no other cause for the patient's myelopathy could be found.
  
  
  RESULTS
  He was counselled regarding HTLV-I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first description of HTLV-I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis in an Australian. In cases of spinal cord disorder without evidence of compression we recommend serological testing for HTLV-I, especially in Aboriginal patients. Additionally, testing of blood donors for this retrovirus needs consideration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Alice Springs Hospital, NT.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rajabalendaran
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Mollison
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Blessing
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kirubakaran
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lindschau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000208:ethnology*; D000095283:Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples