title: Clinical presentation of axial myopathy in two siblings with HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clinical features of myositis related with Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) remains unclear despite epidemiological studies suggesting inflammatory myopathy associated with the virus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here, we described the clinical presentations, muscle biopsy studies and laboratory results of two siblings with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy / tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) who were affected with lumbar lordosis. Computed tomography (CT) scans demonstrated marked paraspinal muscle atrophy in both patients. Immunohistochemical studies of biopsy tissue obtained from one of the patients revealed inflammatory change of the muscle. Upon oral prednisolone therapy, the patient showed improvement in muscle strength and serum creatine kinase (CK) level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Myopathy or specifically axial myopathy should be considered as clinical symptom when treating the patients with HTLV-1 infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, 890-8520, Japan. pine@m.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, 890-8520, Japan. akiko_ys_b4@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, 890-8520, Japan. nzmstsh@m2.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nozuma
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, 890-8520, Japan. ihiguchi@m2.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Itsuro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Higuchi
authors.affiliation: Center for Chronic Viral Diseases, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, 890-8520, Japan. kubotar@m2.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Ryuji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, 890-8520, Japan. thiroshi@m3.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takashima
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000821:virology*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D035781:Siblings
chemical_list: D011239:Prednisolone