Neurologic consequences of HTLV-II infection in injection-drug users.
Several case reports have suggested an association between human T-cell lymphotropic virus type II (HTLV-II) infection and chronic neurologic disease. We performed serial neurologic examinations in injection-drug users (IDU), a group known to be at increased risk for HTLV-II infection. At baseline, those infected with HTLV-II alone, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) alone, or both were significantly more likely to have neurologic disability than uninfected subjects. Longitudinally, HTLV-II infection was independently associated with the development of global neurologic disability and neuropathy, suggesting that HTLV-II causes neurologic disease.
Dooneief
G
G
Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Marlink
R
R
Bell
K
K
Marder
K
K
Renjifo
B
B
Stern
Y
Y
Mayeux
R
R
D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015491:HTLV-II Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012306:Risk; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology