Chronic dacryosialadenitis in HTLV I associated myelopathy

• Published in: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry Vol. 58; no. 2; pp. 244 - 246
• Main Authors: Cartier, L, Castillo, J L, Cea, J G, Villagra, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.02.1995; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; AIDS/HIV; Biological and medical sciences; Chronic Disease; Dacryocystitis - pathology; Dacryocystitis - virology; Female; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic - pathology; Prospective Studies; Sialadenitis - pathology; Sialadenitis - virology; Sjogren's Syndrome - pathology; Sjogren's Syndrome - virology; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the nervous system; Human; Nervous system diseases; Stomatology; Retroviridae; Autoimmune disease; Lacrimal apparatus disease; Epidemiology; Sjögren syndrome; Infection; Virus; Sialadenitis; Myelopathy; Eye disease; Concomitant disease; Salivary gland disease; Dacryoadenitis; Viral disease; Systemic disease; Central nervous system disease; Frequency; HTLV-I virus; Spinal cord disease
• ISSN: 0022-3050; 1468-330X
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.58.2.244

A prospective study was carried out on 48 patients with HTLV I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) to assess the association between this entity and Sjögren's syndrome. Fourteen patients (29.1%) had chronic dacryosialadenitis confirmed by a positive Schirmer's test and salivary gland biopsy. None of these patients had evidence of collagen disease and tests for Ro, La, and rheumatoid factor were negative except in one case. Therefore, the dacryosialadenitis could not be classified as either primary or secondary Sjögren's syndrome. Ten of the 14 patients (71.4%) had other systems (haematological, articular, dermatological, or respiratory) involved apart from the neurological and exocrine gland pathology. The findings suggest that the dacryosialadenitis associated with HTLV I is a disease of viral origin distinct from Sjögren's syndrome.