Diagnostico y tratamiento de la neuropatia endemica cronica asociada con virus humano linfotropico de celulas T, tipo I (HTLV-1) / Diagnosis and treatment of chronic endemic neuropathy associated with human lymphotropic virus of T cells, type I (HTLV-1)

ABSTRACT

An abridged review of the current status of chronic endemic neuropathy associated with human lymphotropic virus type I is presented. Tropical and non trpopical spastic paraparesis are associated with HTL V -I antibodies and the virus has been isolated from the blood and spinal fluid of patients, and probably they are a similar process. The case of a 57 year old black female from St. Croix, USVI, with a six year history of progressive spastic paraparesis, sphincter disturbances and subjective sensory complaints is described. Antibodies to HTL V-I were detected by the Elisa and confirmed by Western blot. The patient was treated with Zidovudine 200 mgrs three times a day for six weeks. At the end of this period she was able to walk without assistance, dance, jump and squat. Spasticity, sensory and sphinter disturbances disappeared