HTLV-I-associated myelopathy in a Californian: diagnosis by reactivity to a viral recombinant antigen

Neurology. 1991 Mar;41(3):448-50. doi: 10.1212/wnl.41.3.448.

Abstract

A male patient developed leg numbness and weakness, and bowel, bladder, and erectile dysfunction. Examination revealed an isolated thoracic myelopathy, with lower-extremity spasticity, decreased vibration and position sense, hyperreflexia, and Babinski's signs. Serum and CSF showed antibody reactivity to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I or II (HTLV-I/II), suggesting HTLV-I-associated myelopathy. Antibody reactivity to a unique HTLV-I recombinant protein provided definitive diagnosis of HTLV-I infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Viral / immunology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • California
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Epitopes
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / diagnosis*
  • Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / immunology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Viral Fusion Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral
  • DNA, Viral
  • Epitopes
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Viral Fusion Proteins