title: Update on Neurological Manifestations of HTLV-1 Infection.
abstract: The human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus that infects 10-20 million persons around the world. Initially associated with the hematological malignancy adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), HTLV-1 is also the cause of a chronic progressive myelopathy named "HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis" (HAM/TSP). HAM/TSP arises as the tip of the iceberg of an assortment of neurological syndromes triggered by the virus such as inflammatory myopathies, polyneuropathies, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-like syndromes, dysautonomia, and cognitive impairment. HAM/TSP typifies a chronic progressive spastic paraparesis with neurogenic bladder and minimal sensory signs. The neuropathology of HAM/TSP is concentrated in the thoracic spinal cord and is typically biphasic. Initially, there is a perivascular lymphocytic cuffing and mild parenchymal mononuclear infiltrates. Subsequently, this is replaced by gliosis and scarring. The neuropathogenesis of HTLV-1 is still partially understood. At present, the therapy of HAM/TSP remains basically symptomatic.
authors: The Laboratory for Clinical Research in Neuroinfections, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INI), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Brazilian Ministry of Health, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil, abelardo@ufrj.br.
authors: Abelardo Q-C
authors: AQ
authors: Araujo