title: HTLV-I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis in a 7-year-old boy associated with infective dermatitis.
abstract: HTLV-I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a chronic myelopathy characterized by a slowly progressive spastic paraparesis and sphincter disturbances beginning in adulthood. Only eight well-documented cases occurring in childhood and adolescence have been described. Infective dermatitis associated to the HTLV-I (IDH) is a chronic eczema of childhood occurring in vertically infected carriers. Here we describe a 7-year-old boy with HAM/TSP and IDH. The neurological manifestations were spastic gait, hyperreflexia of lower limbs, clonus and bilateral Babinski's sign. High levels of HTLV-I antibodies in the serum and in the cerebrospinal fluid were observed. The association of these two diseases and the early onset of HAM/TSP are probably related to a strong humoral anti-HTLV-I response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Brazil. fatimaoliv@bol.com.br
authors.forename: Maria de Fátima S P
authors.initials: Mde F
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Achiléa L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bittencourt
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brites
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Carrijo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hermes
authors.forename: Fabrício Oliveira
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Almeida
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015984:Causality; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D004485:Eczema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D001405:Reflex, Babinski / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral