RT Book, Section
A1 Douglas, Vanja C.
A1 Aminoff, Michael J.
A2 Papadakis, Maxine A.
A2 McPhee, Stephen J.
A2 Rabow, Michael W.
A2 McQuaid, Kenneth R.
SR Print(0)
ID 1184184960
T1 Myelopathy of Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Infection
T2 Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2022
YR 2022
FD 2022
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9781264269389
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1184184960
RD 2024/04/19
AB Human  T-cell  leukemia  virus  (HTLV-1),  a  human  retrovirus,  is  transmitted  by  breastfeeding,  sexual  contact,  blood  transfusion,  and  contaminated  needles.  Most  patients  are  asymptomatic,  but  after  a  variable  latent  period  (which  may  be  as  long  as  several  years),  a  myelopathy  develops  in  some  instances.  The  MRI,  electrophysiologic,  and  cerebrospinal  fluid  findings  are  similar  to  those  of  multiple  sclerosis,  but  HTLV-1  antibodies  are  present  in  serum  and  spinal  fluid.  There  is  no  specific  treatment,  but  intravenous  or  oral  corticosteroids  may  help  in  the  initial  inflammatory  phase  of  the  disease.  Prophylactic  measures  are  important.  Needles  or  syringes  should  not  be  shared;  infected  patients  should  not  breastfeed  their  infants  or  donate  blood,  semen,  or  other  tissue.  Infected  patients  should  use  condoms  to  prevent  sexual  transmission.