ABSTRACT
Leprosy and human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 infection are prevalent in Brazil. Coinfection by Mycobacterium leprae and HTLV-1 is reviewed and a case is reported. A 59 year-old woman was followed and HTLV-1 associated myelopathy was diagnosed during leprosy treatment. The clinical and neurological aspects of this unusual association were initially reviewed. Immunological markers and the possible prognoses due to the association of the diseases were discussed. The unexpected association of leprosy and HTLV-1 associated myelopathy may occur in endemic areas and causes difficulties in determining the correct diagnosis and adequate management of the neurological manifestations.
Subject(s)
Leprosy, Lepromatous/complications , Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic/etiologyABSTRACT
Leprosy and human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 infection are prevalent in Brazil. Coinfection by Mycobacterium leprae and HTLV-1 is reviewed and a case is reported. A 59 year-old woman was followed and HTLV-1 associated myelopathy was diagnosed during leprosy treatment. The clinical and neurological aspects of this unusual association were initially reviewed. Immunological markers and the possible prognoses due to the association of the diseases were discussed. The unexpected association of leprosy and HTLV-1 associated myelopathy may occur in endemic areas and causes difficulties in determining the correct diagnosis and adequate management of the neurological manifestations.
Hanseníase e infecção pelo HTLV-1 são prevalentes no Brasil. A associação de hanseníase e infecção por HTLV-1 é revista e é relatado um caso de coinfecção. Paciente feminina de 59 anos teve diagnóstico de mielopatia associada ao HTLV-1 durante o tratamento para hanseníase. Aspectos clínicos e neurológicos desta associação, ainda não descrita, são revistos e os marcadores imunológicos e possíveis evoluções relacionadas com a associação dessas doenças discutidos. A associação de hanseníase e mielopatia associada ao HTLV-1, aparentemente pouco usual, pode ocorrer em áreas endêmicas e trazer dificuldades para o diagnóstico e tratamento das manifestações neurológicas.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Leprosy, Lepromatous/complications , Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic/diagnosis , Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic/etiologyABSTRACT
Brazil may have the highest absolute number of individuals infected by human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). It has been suggested that the prevalence of HTLV-1 is increased in patients with skin diseases. This study shows a higher prevalence of this infection in 1,229 patients attending a Brazilian dermatology clinic (0.7%) when compared to blood donors (0.22%). Of note, one additional patient tested positive for HTLV-2. The main skin diseases described in HTLV-1 seropositives were vitiligo (2 cases), dermatophytosis (2 cases), and leprosy (2 cases). A 23-year-old woman received a diagnosis of infectious dermatitis.