title: Spastic ataxia associated with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type II infection.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL.
authors: W J
authors: WJ
authors: Harrington
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Sheremata
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Hjelle
authors: D K
authors: DK
authors: Dube
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Bradshaw
authors: S K
authors: SK
authors: Foung
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Snodgrass
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Toedter
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Cabral
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Poiesz
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal