title: HTLV-1 associated myelopathy diagnosed during lepromatous leprosy reaction treatment: a case report.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. mgrossi@medicina.ufmg.br
authors.forename: Marcelo Grossi
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Denise Utsch
authors.initials: DU
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Vandack
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nobre
authors.forename: João Gabriel Ramos
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ribas
authors.forename: Anna Bárbara de Freitas
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Carneiro-Proietti
authors.forename: José Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lambertucci
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos Martins
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Guedes
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology