title: Diagnosis of HAM/TSP based on CSF proviral HTLV-I DNA and HTLV-I antibody index.
abstract: The contribution of human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-I) DNA by PCR in CSF and the intrathecal synthesis of antibodies to HTLV-I by the antibody index (AI) to the diagnosis of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM)/tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) were evaluated. Cases of spastic paraparesis compatible with HAM/TSP had increased AI for HTLV-I (60/73) and HTLV-I proviral sequences in CSF (25/27). Among 27 patients with other neurologic diseases, three had increased AI and another three had positive HTLV-I DNA in CSF. Thus, the combination of PCR for proviral DNA and AI for HTLV-I in CSF provides consistent criteria for the diagnosis of HAM/TSP.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Brazil.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puccioni-Sohler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rios
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Novis
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bianco
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011533:Proviruses / Q000235:genetics*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies