title: Ocular lesions in HTLV-1 infected patients from Salvador, State of Bahia: the city with the highest prevalence of this infection in Brazil.
abstract: In order to determine the prevalence of ocular lesions in HTLV-1 infected patients in Salvador Bahia, a transversal study was conducted on 140 HTLV-1 infected patients (90 asymptomatic and 50 tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-1-associated myelopathy) between June 2004 and November 2005. The ophthalmological examination included visual acuity measurement, ocular motility, biomicroscopy of the anterior and posterior chambers, intraocular pressure and evaluation of lachrymal secretion. Observation verified 4 (2.8%) out of 140 patients with uveitis (two patients had intermediate uveitis and two had pan-uveitis) and 39 (36.4%) out of 107 patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca. The prevalence of Keratoconjunctivitis sicca was significantly higher among the TSP/HAM patients (OR age adjusted=3.64; 95%CI 1.59-8.32). Uveitis and corneal opacities were also important findings, indicating the strong need for periodic ophthalmological follow-up in all HTLV-1 subjects.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Brasileiro de Oftalmologia e Prevenção da Cegueira, Salvador, BA.
authors.forename: Regina Helena
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Rathsam-Pinheiro
authors.forename: Ney
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boa-Sorte
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castro-Lima-Vargens
authors.forename: Carlos Aldir
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Castro-Lima
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Galvão-Castro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007638:Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D014605:Uveitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D055815:Young Adult