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Aquaporin-4 antibodies are not related to HTLV-1 associated myelopathy.
- Source :
-
PloS one [PLoS One] 2012; Vol. 7 (7), pp. e39372. Date of Electronic Publication: 2012 Jul 10. - Publication Year :
- 2012
-
Abstract
- Introduction: The seroprevalence of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is very high among Brazilians (1:200). HTLV-1 associated myelopathy or tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is the most common neurological complication of HTLV-1 infection. HAM/TSP can present with an acute/subacute form of longitudinally extensive myelitis, which can be confused with lesions seen in aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-Ab) positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) on MRI. Moreover, clinical attacks in patients with NMOSD have been shown to be preceded by viral infections in around 30% of cases.<br />Objective: To evaluate the frequency of AQP4-Ab in patients with HAM/TSP. To evaluate the frequency of HTLV-1 infection in patients with NMOSD.<br />Patients and Methods: 23 Brazilian patients with HAM/TSP, 20 asymptomatic HTLV-1+ serostatus patients, and 34 with NMOSD were tested for AQP4-Ab using a standardized recombinant cell based assay. In addition, all patients were tested for HTLV-1 by ELISA and Western blotting.<br />Results: 20/34 NMOSD patients were positive for AQP4-Ab but none of the HAM/TSP patients and none of the asymptomatic HTLV-1 infected individuals. Conversely, all AQP4-Ab-positive NMOSD patients were negative for HTLV-1 antibodies. One patient with HAM/TSP developed optic neuritis in addition to subacute LETM; this patient was AQP4-Ab negative as well. Patients were found to be predominantly female and of African descent both in the NMOSD and in the HAM/TSP group; Osame scale and expanded disability status scale scores did not differ significantly between the two groups.<br />Conclusions: Our results argue both against a role of antibodies to AQP4 in the pathogenesis of HAM/TSP and against an association between HTLV-1 infection and the development of AQP4-Ab. Moreover, the absence of HTLV-1 in all patients with NMOSD suggests that HTLV-1 is not a common trigger of acute attacks in patients with AQP4-Ab positive NMOSD in populations with high HTLV-1 seroprevalence.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Black or African American
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aquaporin 4 blood
Aquaporin 4 immunology
Autoantibodies immunology
Blotting, Western
Brazil epidemiology
Diagnosis, Differential
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Neuromyelitis Optica diagnosis
Neuromyelitis Optica ethnology
Neuromyelitis Optica immunology
Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic diagnosis
Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic ethnology
Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic immunology
Sex Factors
Young Adult
Autoantibodies blood
Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 physiology
Neuromyelitis Optica blood
Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic blood
RNA, Viral blood
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1932-6203
- Volume :
- 7
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- PloS one
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 22808032
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0039372