Quantitative assessment of subclinical spasticity in human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I infection
Citation Manager Formats
Make Comment
See Comments
This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
Abstract
Objective: To compare human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type I (HTLV-I) seropositive and seronegative women for symptoms and signs of spasticity.
Background: Infection with HTLV-I causes tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-I–associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM). Certain populations, including female commercial sex workers (FSW), are at increased risk of developing this infection. Fewer than 5% of HTLV-I–seropositive persons develop TSP/HAM, which is typically associated with spasticity.
Methods: Cross-sectional study of 255 registered FSW in Callao, Perú, involving a questionnaire detailing demographics and neurologic symptoms, standard neurologic examination, quantitative assessment of spasticity (QSA) of muscle tone, and serologic testing for HTLV-I. Participants and examiners were blinded to serology results.
Results: On the questionnaire and neurologic examination, none of the 32 HTLV-I–seropositive or 223 seronegative women had signs or symptoms of spasticity. However, mean values on QSA were significantly higher among seropositive women (27.1 Newton-meters/radian [N-m/r]) than among seronegative women (21.6 N-m/r, p = 0.01), indicating a subclinical increase in lower extremity tone. With values of QSA divided into tertiles, and the first tertile serving as the comparison group, the odds ratio for seropositivity was 1.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0 to 2.0) in the second and 3.1 (95% CI 2.2 to 4.3) in the third tertile, after adjusting for age and place of birth.
Conclusions: Although a standard neurologic evaluation could not distinguish between women with and without HTLV-I infection, QSA indicated significantly increased lower extremity tone in those with infection. Long-term follow-up will determine whether these subclinical findings in asymptomatic women progress to overt TSP/HAM.
- Received November 13, 1998.
- Accepted February 26, 1999.
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
For assistance, please contact:
AAN Members (800) 879-1960 or (612) 928-6000 (International)
Non-AAN Member subscribers (800) 638-3030 or (301) 223-2300 option 3, select 1 (international)
Sign Up
Information on how to subscribe to Neurology and Neurology: Clinical Practice can be found here
Purchase
Individual access to articles is available through the Add to Cart option on the article page. Access for 1 day (from the computer you are currently using) is US$ 39.00. Pay-per-view content is for the use of the payee only, and content may not be further distributed by print or electronic means. The payee may view, download, and/or print the article for his/her personal, scholarly, research, and educational use. Distributing copies (electronic or otherwise) of the article is not allowed.
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
You must ensure that your Disclosures have been updated within the previous six months. Please go to our Submission Site to add or update your Disclosure information.
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
You May Also be Interested in
Dr. Dennis Bourdette and Dr. Lindsey Wooliscroft
► Watch
Related Articles
- No related articles found.
Alert Me
Recommended articles
-
Article
HTLV-associated myelopathy in a cohort of HTLV-I and HTLV-II-infected blood donorsE. L. Murphy, J. Fridey, J. W. Smith et al.Neurology, February 01, 1997 -
Article
Myelopathy Among Brazilians Coinfected with Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus Type I and HIVL. H. Harrison, B. Vaz, D. M. Taveira et al.Neurology, January 01, 1997 -
Brief Communications
Spectrum of myelopathies in HIV seropositive South African patientsA. I. Bhigjee, S. Madurai, P.L.A. Bill et al.Neurology, July 24, 2001 -
Article
Effect of Teriflunomide on Cells From Patients With Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1–Associated Neurologic DiseaseYoshimi Enose-Akahata, Nyater Ngouth, Joan Ohayon et al.Neurology: Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation, April 09, 2021