Sicca syndrome and HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study is to describe the clinical and immunological aspects observed in patients with both human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis and ocular dryness.


METHODS
In 15 such patients, clinical and biological examinations completed with a biopsy of secondary salivary glands were performed to assess the etiology of the ocular dryness.


RESULTS
Histological study of the biopsy specimens indicated that 80% of the patients had grade 3 or grade 4 lesions, according to the Chisholm scale. Polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia was found in 60% of patients and lymphocytic alveolitis in 80%. Three patients had past medical history of chronic uveitis.


CONCLUSIONS
All findings in these patients were compatible with Sjögren's syndrome; however, no immunological disorders characteristic of the syndrome were found. Tests for antinuclear antibodies and rheumatoid factor proved negative in all cases.
Merle
H
H
Service d'Ophtalmologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Fort de France, Martinique, French West Indies.
Cabre
P
P
Smadja
D
D
Josset
P
P
Landau
M
M
Vernant
J C
JC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D059909:HLA-B14 Antigen; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007638:Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000473:pathology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D059909:HLA-B14 Antigen; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies