- J Korean Neurol Assoc. 1990;8(2):378-383.
- A case of Human T Lymphotropic Virus Type I Associated Myelopathy (HAM)
- Jae Hyeon Park, M.D., Soo Chul Park, M.D., Seung Han Suk, M.D., Won Joo Kim, M.D., Jae Woo Chung, M.D., Byung In Lee, M.D.
- Dep. Of Neurology, Yonsei University
- HTLV-I Associated Myelopathy (HAM)1예
- 박재현, 박수철,석승한, 김원주, 정재우, 이병인
- 연세대학교 신경과.
- Abstract
- Since Gessain et al.(l985) first reported the presence of antibodies to HTLV-I virus in the sera of patients with tropical spastic paraparesis(TSP), Osame et al.(l986) in Japan have reported a new entity of HTLV-I associated myelopathy(HAM) characterized by chronic progressive spastic paraparesis. Subsequent Japanese nationwide survey revealed that there were approxirnately 600 HAM patients, especially in the endemic area, Kyushu(Osame et al, 1990a). Despite a large number of patients existing in Japan and presumed viral etioiogy of HAM, none have been previously reported in Korea. Here we report a Korean male presented with slowly progressive spastic paraparesis, who was interestingly a husband of Japariese Korean lived in Kyushu, Japan. Investigations in this patient revealed significantly elevated antibody titers to HTLV-1 both in the serum and CSF. Western blot assay also confirmed the diagnosis of HAM. Examination of the patient's wife who was asymptomatic showed significantly elevated antibody titers to HTLV-I in the serum but not in the CSF. It seemed likely that the patient was infected from his wife who was a carrier of HTLV-1
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