Premium
HTLV‐1‐associated myeloneuropathy in an Italian
Author(s) -
Lugaresi A.,
Uncini A.,
Porrini A. M.,
Battista P.,
French D.,
Curia M. C.,
Mammarella S.,
MarianiCostantini R.,
Gambi D.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1991.tb04935.x
Subject(s) - polymerase chain reaction , myelopathy , ataxia , medicine , spasticity , myelitis , southern blot , pathology , immunology , spinal cord , biology , dna , genetics , anesthesia , gene , psychiatry
A 58‐year old man presented with slowly progressive spastic paraparesis, ataxia, absent ankle jerks, bladder disturbances, impairment of vibration sense and mental deterioration. Electrophysiological studies documented axonal sensory neuropathy, posterior column and optic nerve involvement. Serum tests for anti‐HTLV‐1 antibodies were negative but HTLV‐1 proviral sequences were consistently demonstrated in white blood cell genomic DNA using the polymerase chain reaction technique. Western blot and polymerase chain reaction assays of sera and DNA from family members were negative for HTLV‐1. The most likely cause of infection in this patient was a blood transfusion received 2 years before onset of symptoms. This is the second Italian case of HTLV‐1 associated myelopathy and the fourth reported in white subjects living in Europe.