Myasthenia gravis associated with HTLV-I infection and atypical brain lesions.
We report a patient who experienced progressive diplopia and distal weakness of the upper limbs. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed extensive white matter lesions and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid revealed acute human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infection. Myasthenia gravis (MG) was evidenced by electromyography (EMG) and antibodies against acetylcholine receptor. This unusual case of MG associated with HTLV-I infection and brain-restricted lesions underscores the possible link between viruses and MG pathogenesis.
Lalive
Patrice H
PH
Department of Neurosciences, Clinic of Neurology, University Hospital of Geneva, Micheli-du-Crest 24, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland. patrice.lalive@hcuge.ch
Allali
Gilles
G
Truffert
André
A
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000821:virology; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000276:immunology / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000276:immunology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic