ABSTRACT
We describe a 41 years old woman who 17 years ago presented hypotonia and proximal muscular weakness in the upper and lower limbs. On neurological examination, the biceps, triceps and Achilles reflexes were absent; the brachioradialis reflexes were decreased and the patellar reflexes were normal. There was bilateral Babinski sign. The remainder of the neurological examination was unremarkable. In the investigation a myopathic pattern was found in the electromyography. The nerve-conduction study was normal; a ELISA method for HTLV-I antibodies was positive in the blood and in the cerebral spinal fluid. The muscle biopsy showed inflammatory myopathy, compatible with polymyositis. This paper focuses the polymyositis in the beginning of an HTLV-I infection case
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Adult , HTLV-I Infections/complications , Polymyositis/virology , Biopsy , Electromyography , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , HTLV-I Antibodies/blood , HTLV-I Antibodies/cerebrospinal fluid , HTLV-I Infections/pathology , Polymyositis/pathologyABSTRACT
Apresentamos o caso de mulher com 57 anos de idade apresentando polimiosite, associada a infecçao pelo HTLV-I, sem manifestaçoes clínicas de acomentimento do sistema nervoso central e periférico. Fazemos alguns comentários sobre os aspectos fisiopatológicos do envolvimento muscular nas infecçoes pelo HTLV-I