       Document 0703
 DOCN  M9610703
 TI    Human T lymphotropic virus type I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic
       paraparesis in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
 DT    9601
 AU    Domingues RB; Muniz MR; Pinho JR; Bassit L; Jorge ML; Alquezar AS;
       Marchiori PE; Chamone DF; Scaff M; Department of Neurology, University
       of Sao Paulo School of; Medicine, Brazil.
 SO    Clin Infect Dis. 1995 Jun;20(6):1540-2. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96034948
 AB    We conducted a prospective clinical and epidemiologic evaluation of 45
       cases of human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1)-associated
       myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
       All enrolled patients had progressive chronic myelopathy and high titers
       of HTLV-I and HTLV-II antibodies, as determined by enzyme immunoassay
       and western blot. In 24 cases, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was
       performed so that HTLV-I could be distinguished from HLTV-II. The
       clinical and epidemiologic features of the patients from our study were
       similar to those of patients with HAM/TSP from other areas of endemicity
       for HTLV-I except that more patients in our study had received a blood
       transfusion prior to their illness. Despite the presence of HTLV-II
       virus in Brazil, all patients whose serum was tested by PCR were found
       to be infected with the HTLV-I virus.
 DE    Adult  Aged  Brazil/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Female  Human  HTLV-BLV
       Antibodies/BLOOD  HTLV-I/ISOLATION & PURIF  HTLV-II/ISOLATION & PURIF
       Male  Middle Age  Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/VIROLOGY
       Polymerase Chain Reaction  Prospective Studies  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

