HTLV-I associated myelopathy in salvador (northeastern Brazil)

Abstract

Recent studies of tropical spastic paraparesis have confirmed the existence of human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLVI) in several tropical areas of the world. In order to determine the role of HTLVI as an etiologic agent of myelopathies in Salvador, we conducted a clinical and serological study in 43 patients with non-traumatic and non-tumoral myelopathies. We found 9 patients with HTLVI associated myelopathy (HAM) which points to a new endemic area of HAM.

Keywords

• HTLV-I
• mielopatia
• paraparesia espástica tropical