Antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus type-I in patients with tropical spastic paraparesis

10 out of 17 (59%) patients with tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) had antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus-I (HTLV-I), as did 5 out of 5 TSP patients with systemic symptoms. Only 13 out of 303 (4%) controls, made up of blood donors, medical personnel, and other neurological patients, had such...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Lancet (British edition) Vol. 2; no. 8452; p. 407
Main Authors Gessain, A, Barin, F, Vernant, J C, Gout, O, Maurs, L, Calender, A, de Thé, G
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 24.08.1985
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Antibodies, Viral - analysis
Antibodies, Viral - cerebrospinal fluid
Antigens, Viral - analysis
Deltaretrovirus - immunology
Deltaretrovirus - isolation & purification
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Female
Humans
Male
Martinique
Middle Aged
Muscle Spasticity - etiology
Muscle Spasticity - microbiology
Paraplegia - etiology
Paraplegia - microbiology
Tropical Climate
Martinique
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:10 out of 17 (59%) patients with tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) had antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus-I (HTLV-I), as did 5 out of 5 TSP patients with systemic symptoms. Only 13 out of 303 (4%) controls, made up of blood donors, medical personnel, and other neurological patients, had such antibodies. These findings suggest either that HTLV-I is neurotropic or that the virus or a related one contributes to the pathogenesis of TSP.
ISSN:0140-6736