title: Childhood-onset HAM/TSP with progressive  cognitive impairment.
abstract: HTLV-I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a chronic myelopathy, usually with adult-onset. Very few cases of childhood-onset have been described, most presenting with progressive paraparesis and sphincteric disturbances as in the adult form. Here we report a young male with childhood-onset of HAM/TSP and progressive cognitive and behavioral disturbances. A serological screening revealed HTLV-I infection, confirmed by Western Immunoblotting analysis. Molecular characterization of amplified HTLV-I proviral DNA has been performed both in the patient and his mother by LTR sequence analysis, and HLA genotype inheritance was evaluated. Our case indicates the possibility that cognitive dysfunctions may be one manifestation of HTLV-I infection in childhood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Neurology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zorzi
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mancuso
authors.forename: Nardo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nardocci
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Farina
authors.forename: Franca Rosa
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Guerini
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrante
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral; D018450:Disease Progression; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010375:Pedigree; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006680:HLA Antigens