Abstract
Tropical spastic paraparesis/ HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM) is the classical neurological manifestation of HTLV-I. Only a few studies have described isolated peripheral neuropathy (PN) among HTLV-I infected individuals. 335 infected individuals without TSP/HAM were evaluated for the presence of PN and 45 of them showed evidences of peripheral nervous system involvement. Of these 21 patients had isolated PN, defined by clinical and/or electrophysiological criteria. Sural nerve biopsies revealed inflammatory infiltrates in 2, axonal degeneration in 2 and segmental demyelination in 1. Therefore, peripheral neuropathy can be found as an isolated manifestation of HTLV-I infection. We conclude that HTLV-I infection should be investigated in patients with PN of unknown origin.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Aged
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Biopsy
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Demyelinating Diseases / pathology
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Demyelinating Diseases / physiopathology
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Diagnosis, Differential
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Electrodiagnosis
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Female
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HTLV-I Infections / complications*
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HTLV-I Infections / immunology
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HTLV-I Infections / physiopathology
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Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / immunology*
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Humans
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Inflammation / pathology
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Inflammation / physiopathology
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / diagnosis*
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Peripheral Nerves / pathology*
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Peripheral Nerves / physiopathology
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Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / diagnosis*
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Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / immunology
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Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / virology
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Serologic Tests
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Sural Nerve / pathology
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Sural Nerve / physiopathology
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Wallerian Degeneration / pathology
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Wallerian Degeneration / physiopathology