RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To characterize cognitive alterations among patients with HTLV-1, ascertain what is associated with these alterations and evaluate these patients' quality of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. Patients infected by HTLV-1 who were seen at the Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital from March 2014 to June 2015 were included in the study. A semi-structured questionnaire and the Mini-Mental State Examination, Color Trails Test, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-III), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF36) were used. "Low IQ" scores were defined for WAIS-III as under 80 points. Results Fifty-five patients were evaluated: 26% presented altered MMSE, 38%, altered Color Trails Test; 10.9% presented low total IQ; 12.7%, low executive IQ; and 10.9%, low verbal IQ. There was no association between low total IQ and any characteristics of the patient or of the HTLV infection. Paraparesis and anxiety disorders were significantly associated with worse quality of life. CONCLUSION: High frequency of cognitive impairment was found in patients with HTLV, thus suggesting that these alterations are an important clinical manifestation of this virus.