HTLV-1 associated myelopathy diagnosed during lepromatous leprosy reaction treatment: a case report.
Leprosy and human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 infection are prevalent in Brazil. Coinfection by Mycobacterium leprae and HTLV-1 is reviewed and a case is reported. A 59 year-old woman was followed and HTLV-1 associated myelopathy was diagnosed during leprosy treatment. The clinical and neurological aspects of this unusual association were initially reviewed. Immunological markers and the possible prognoses due to the association of the diseases were discussed. The unexpected association of leprosy and HTLV-1 associated myelopathy may occur in endemic areas and causes difficulties in determining the correct diagnosis and adequate management of the neurological manifestations.
Araújo
Marcelo Grossi
MG
Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. mgrossi@medicina.ufmg.br
Gonçalves
Denise Utsch
DU
Nobre
Vandack
V
Ribas
João Gabriel Ramos
JG
Carneiro-Proietti
Anna Bárbara de Freitas
AB
Lambertucci
José Roberto
JR
Guedes
Antonio Carlos Martins
AC
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology