ABSTRACT
The discovery in 1985 in Martinique of an association between human T lymphotrophic virus type (HTLV -1) and tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) (Gessain et al, 1985) opened a new chapter in the search for viruses in chronic human neurological disease. A few HTLV-1 seropositive patients have been reported to present with a clinical picture of a slowly progressive disorder resembling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but with a slower evolution (Vernant et al, 1989). In addition, pathological findings in some TSP cases have included anterior horn neuron depletion (Robertson and Cruickshank, 1972; Arimura et al, 1989). We have monitored selected humoral immune factors as well as levels of inflammatory proteins in asymptomatics and normal controls, using a computer-aided electrophoresis technique. The results showed a significant presence of hypergamma-globulinaemia, predominantly IgC in TSP patients. Interestingly enough, as well, immune complexes, complement cascade activation in those HTLV-1 seropositive patients with anterior horn-like neurological disorders. These data are consistent with the hypothesis of the occurrence of an immune complex-mediated vasculitis phenomenon in the latter subjects. Monitoring of these biological factors may represent a useful tool in the diagnosis and understanding of the physiopathological mechanisms of these disorders (AU)