Spastic ataxia associated with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type II infection.
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type one (HTLV-1) is associated with tropical spastic paraparesis or HTLV-I--associated myelopathy. We report 2 women with a spastic ataxic illness similar to HTLV-I--associated myelopathy infected solely with HTLV-II. Identification of HTLV-II infection was made serologically, by polymerase chain reaction, and by viral culture (in 1 woman). One woman, treated with 200 mg of danazol orally, three times daily, had pronounced improvement in ambulation, nocturnal spasticity, and nighttime urinary frequency. It appears that infection with HTLV-II may cause an illness similar to HTLV-I--associated myelopathy, but distinguished by the presence of ataxia.
Harrington
W J
WJ
Department of Medicine, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL.
Sheremata
W
W
Hjelle
B
B
Dube
D K
DK
Bradshaw
P
P
Foung
S K
SK
Snodgrass
S
S
Toedter
G
G
Cabral
L
L
Poiesz
B
B
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001259:Ataxia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015491:HTLV-II Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012698:Serologic Tests
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal