Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type I Antibodies in the Serum of Patients With Tropical Spastic Paraparesis in the Seychelles

Gustavo C. Román, Bruce S. Schoenberg, David L. Madden, John L. Sever, Jacques Hugon, Albert Ludolph, Peter S. Spencer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

88 Scopus citations

Abstract

Tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP), a chronic myelopathy of unknown etiology, was studied in the Seychelles. Human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) and human immunodeficiency virus antibodies were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and confirmed with an indirect fluorescent antibody test in serum samples of 20 patients with TSP and 16 controls. Test results indicated that 17 patients (85%) and two controls (transverse myelopathy and clinically probable multiple sclerosis) were positive for HTLV-I. Serum samples of nine healthy controls and five with other neurologic diseases were negative for HTLV-I. No serum samples were positive for human immunodeficiency virus. Estimated relative risk for TSP in those subjects whose serum is positive for HTLV-I antibodies is 40. This result is highly statistically significant. Although primarily associated with adult T-cell leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, HTLV-I could also be an etiologic agent of TSP.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)605-607
Number of pages3
JournalArchives of Neurology
Volume44
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1987
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Clinical Neurology

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