Anterior horn cell degeneration in HTLV-1 associated polymyositis in patients from Barbados - abstract
West Indian med. j
; 44(Suppl. 2): 32, Apr. 1995.
Article
in English
| MedCarib
| ID: med-5759
Responsible library:
JM3.1
Localization: JM3.1; R18.W4
ABSTRACT
Anterior horn cell degeneration has only been noted occasionally in patients with tropical spastic paraparesis associated with human T-lymphotropic virus type I infection (HTLV-I). We report on three adult patients with HTLV-I associated polymyositis who had evidence of anterior horn cell degeneration. One patient had moderate proximal weakness in all 4 limbs, while 2 had mild upper limb weakness and profound proximal weakness in the lower limbs. Electromyographic findings indicated motor unit loss. Muscle biopsies in 2 patients showed features of denervation, as well as mono-nuclear inflammatory cell infiltration. HTLV-1 IgG antibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and confirmed by Western-immunoblot, in serum and cerebrospinal fluid in all 3 patients. In two, cell cultures were established from peripheral blood lymphocytes and HTLV-1 antigen was identified by immunofluorescence and the ELISA antigen capture technique, using an anti-p 19 HTLV-1 mouse monoclonal antibody. These 3 cases illustrate the variety of neuromuscular disease, other than spastic paraparesis, that may occur in HTLV-1 infection. Anterior horn cell degeneration may coexist with HTLV-1 associated polymyositis and may make a significant contribution to the muscle atrophy observed in these cases (AU)
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Collection:
International databases
Database:
MedCarib
Main subject:
HTLV-I Infections
/
Polymyositis
/
Anterior Horn Cells
Type of study:
Prognostic study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Barbados
/
English Caribbean
Language:
English
Journal:
West Indian med. j
Year:
1995
Document type:
Article
/
Congress and conference