title: Interferon beta-1a treatment in HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis: a case report.
abstract: Here a young patient (< 21 years of age) with a history of infective dermatitis is described. The patient was diagnosed with myelopathy associated with HTLV-1/tropical spastic paraparesis and treated with interferon beta-1a. The disease was clinically established as HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), and laboratory tests confirmed the presence of antibodies to HTLV-1 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Mumps, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, schistosomiasis, herpes virus 1 and 2, rubella, measles, varicella-zoster toxoplasmosis, hepatitis, HIV, and syphilis were excluded by serology. The patient was diagnosed with neurogenic bladder and presented with nocturia, urinary urgency, paresthesia of the lower left limb, a marked reduction of muscle strength in the lower limbs, and a slight reduction in upper limb strength. During the fourth week of treatment with interferon beta-1a, urinary urgency and paresthesia disappeared and clinical motor skills improved.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Graça Maria de Castro
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Viana
authors.affiliation: Curso de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Antonio Custódio Neto da
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Curso de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Victor Lima
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Curso de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Natália Barbosa da Silva
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Curso de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diego Luz Felipe da
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria do Desterro Soares Brandão
authors.initials: Mdo D
authors.lastname: Nascimento
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a