Title
Early Neurologic Abnormalities Associated with Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 Infection in a Cohort of Peruvian Children
Date Issued
01 November 2009
Access level
open access
Resource Type
research article
Author(s)
Kendall E.
Espinoza I.
Tipismana M.
Verdonck K.
Vermund S.
Publisher(s)
Elsevier
Abstract
Objective: Because human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) may occur in some children infected with HTLV-1, we sought to determine the prevalence of neurologic abnormalities and any associations of neurologic abnormalities with infective dermatitis in these children. Study design: We enrolled 58 children infected with HTLV-1 and 42 uninfected children (ages 3 to 17) of mothers infected with HTLV-1 in a family study in Lima, Peru. We obtained medical and developmental histories, surveyed current neurologic symptoms, and conducted a standardized neurologic examination without prior knowledge of HTLV-1 status. Results: HTLV-1 infection was associated with reported symptoms of lower extremity weakness/fatigue (odds ratio [OR], 6.1; confidence interval [CI], 0.7 to 281), lumbar pain (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 0.4 to 8), and paresthesia/dysesthesia (OR, 2.6; CI, 0.6 to 15.8). HTLV-1 infection was associated with lower-extremity hyperreflexia (OR, 3.1; CI, 0.8 to 14.2), ankle clonus (OR, 5.0; CI, 1.0 to 48.3), and extensor plantar reflex (OR undefined; P = .2). Among children infected with HTLV-1, a history of infective dermatitis was associated with weakness (OR, 2.7; CI, 0.3 to 33), lumbar pain (OR, 1.3; CI, 0.2 to 8), paresthesia/dysesthesia (OR, 2.9; CI, 0.5 to 20), and urinary disturbances (OR, 5.7; CI, 0.5 to 290). Conclusions: Abnormal neurologic findings were common in Peruvian children infected with HTLV-1, and several findings were co-prevalent with infective dermatitis. Pediatricians should monitor children infected with HTLV-1 for neurologic abnormalities. © 2009 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.
Start page
700
End page
706
Volume
155
Issue
5
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Pediatría
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-71849120250
PubMed ID
Source
Journal of Pediatrics
ISSN of the container
00223476
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus