title: Myasthenia gravis associated with HTLV-I infection and atypical brain lesions.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Clinic of Neurology, University Hospital of Geneva, Micheli-du-Crest 24, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland. patrice.lalive@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: Patrice H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Lalive
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Allali
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Truffert
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic