HTLV-1 and myelopathy in Salvador (Northeastern Brazil): a case control study

• Main Authors: Ines Lessa, Dilcineia Moraes, Luciana Moura, Aílton Melo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Academia Brasileira de Neurologia (ABNEURO) 1993-11-01
• Series: Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria
• Subjects: HTLV-1; retrovirus; estudo analítico; paraparesia espástica tropical; Brasil
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X1993000400004&lng=en&tlng=en

The principal aim of the study was to determine the degree of association between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that is positive for HTLV-1 and myelopathy in Salvador, Brazil. From the same hospital, twenty-eight cases of myelopathy and twenty-eight cases showing no neurological disorder were studied using blind selection matched 1:1 by age and sex. The twenty-eight pairs underwent HTLV-1 serology tests. In those with a positive result, anti-HTLV-1 antibodies were investigated in the CSF. The ELISA method was used, complemented by the Western-blot test. Myelopathy was considered associated with HTLV-1 only when the CSF was positive indicating neurotropism of the virus. The mean age of the cases was 44.6 ± 15.6 years and the control group was 43.5 ± 16.0 (p>0.05). An OR of 9.0 was detected with a reability interval (95%) of 1.652-48.866 and chi-square significant at the 0.02 level. Despite a strong degree of association and considering the low level of precision, there is a need for analytical studies with larger samples which besides improving the precision will allow for greater control of the confounding variables.