Hormonal and Psychogenic Risk Factors for Erectile Dysfunction in Men with HTLV-1.

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is associated with neurological damage due to human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) infection, but hormonal and psychogenic factors also cause ED.

Aim: To evaluate the association of psychogenic and hormonal factors with ED in men infected with HTLV-1.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we compared total testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and neurologic manifestations in HTLV-1-infected men with or without ED.

Onabotulinumtoxin type A improves lower urinary tract symptoms and quality of life in patients with human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 associated overactive bladder.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of the onabotulinum toxin type A in the treatment of HTLV-1 associated overactive bladder and its impact on quality of life (QoL).

Methods: Case series with 10 patients with overactive bladder refractory to conservative treatment with anticholinergic or physical therapy. They received 200Ui of onabotulinumtoxin type A intravesically and were evaluated by overactive bladder symptoms score (OABSS) and King's Health Questionnaire.

Psychiatric Disorders in HTLV-1-Infected Individuals with Bladder Symptoms.

Background: Previous studies have reported high rates of depression and anxiety in HTLV-1 infected individuals with the neurological disease and in the asymptomatic phase. No study has investigated the rates in individuals that already show bladder symptoms without severe neurological changes; that is, during the oligosymptomatic phase. The present study investigated patients in this intermediate form on the spectrum of the infection.

Neurological Manifestations in Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1)-Infected Individuals Without HTLV-1-Associated Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Background: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the agent of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), observed in up to 5% of infected individuals. Despite low prevalence, many HTLV-1-infected patients who do not fulfill criteria for HAM/TSP present with neurological complaints related to sensory, motor, urinary, or autonomic manifestations. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of neurologic manifestations and risk factors associated with these outcomes.

Soluble IL-2 receptor and beta-2 microglobulin as possible serologic markers of neurologic disease in HTLV-1 infection.

The human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-1) is the causative agent of a variety of neurologic diseases, including HTLV-1 Associated Myelopathy (HAM/TSP) and overactive bladder. Investigation of immune markers such as soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) has shown some promising results in distinguishing patients with neurologic disease from those with carrier status. The objective of the present study was to determine if plasma levels of sIL-2R and B2M are markers of neurologic disease in individuals infected with HTLV-1.

Treatment of strongyloidiasis in HTLV-1 and Strongyloides stercoralis coinfected patients is associated with increased TNFα and decreased soluble IL2 receptor levels.

Background: Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection has been associated with recurrent and disseminated strongyloidiasis and adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL).

Methods: We compared immunological aspects and markers for ATLL in HTLV-1 patients with or without strongyloidiasis, and evaluated the influence of Strongyloides stercoralis treatment on the immune response and clinical outcomes of HTLV-1 infection.

Results: Levels of TNFα and IFNγ were lower in patients coinfected with HTLV-1 and S.

Helminthic infection and the risk of neurologic disease progression in HTLV-1.

Background: Infection with the human T-cell lymphotropic virus, type 1 (HTLV-1) has been associated with an increased Th1 response. Interestingly, a higher prevalence of helminthic coinfection has been observed among infected individuals, and subsequent modulation of the immune response typically associated with helminths may influence clinical outcomes among HTLV-1 coinfected individuals.

Objective: This study was conducted to elucidate the association between helminthic coinfection and the development of clinically characterized neurologic disease that occurs in HTLV-1 infection.

Brain magnetic resonance imaging white matter lesions are frequent in HTLV-I carriers and do not discriminate from HAM/TSP.

Human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-I is known to cause HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and other pronounced disease in less than 4% of those infected. However, evidence is accumulating that a proportion of HTLV-I carriers have neurological and urological symptoms without fulfilling criteria for HAM/TSP. Brain white matter (WM) lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are frequently seen in HAM/TSP.

Clinical manifestations associated with HTLV type I infection: a cross-sectional study.

Human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) causes HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis and adult T cell leukemia in a small percentage of infected individuals. HTLV-I infection is increasingly associated with clinical manifestations. To determine the prevalence of clinical manifestations in HTLV-I infected individuals, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 115 HTLV-I-infected blood donors without myelopathy and 115 age- and sex-matched seronegative controls.

Immune responses to an inactive vaccine against American cutaneous leishmaniasis together with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

The immunological response in healthy subjects to a crude leishmania antigen vaccine (Leishvacin) plus rhGM-CSF without prior Montenegro (DTH) skin testing was evaluated. Fifty-six healthy volunteers received vaccine plus either placebo or rhGM-CSF at day 0, followed by either a vaccine booster or placebo at day 21. IFN-gamma and IL-5 levels were significantly enhanced by day 21.