HTLV-I-associated myelopathy in a Californian: diagnosis by reactivity to a viral recombinant antigen.

Honig, L S; Lipka, J J; Young, K Y; Weiss, J H; Foung, S K · Neurology · 1991

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

A male patient developed leg numbness and weakness, and bowel, bladder, and erectile dysfunction. Examination revealed an isolated thoracic myelopathy, with lower-extremity spasticity, decreased vibration and position sense, hyperreflexia, and Babinski's signs. Serum and CSF showed antibody reactivity to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I or II (HTLV-I/II), suggesting HTLV-I-associated myelopathy. Antibody reactivity to a unique HTLV-I recombinant protein provided definitive diagnosis of HTLV-I infection.

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