Early Juvenile Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus Type-1-Associated Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis: Study of 25 Patients.

Background: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) may cause severe diseases such as HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and infective dermatitis associated with HTLV-1 (IDH). The clinical characteristics and progression of 25 early onset HAM/TSP associated or not to IDH were described.

Methods: Following-up 37 IDH patients with neurological examinations, 54% developed HAM/TSP.

Diagnosis and underdiagnosis of comorbidities in psoriasis patients - need for a multidisciplinary approach.

Background:: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease that manifests predominantly in the skin, although systemic involvement may also occur. Although associated comorbidities have long been recognized and despite several studies indicating psoriasis as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events, little has been done in general medical practice regardind screening. In the United States, less than 50% of clinicians are aware of these recommendations.

Clustering of HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and infective dermatitis associated with HTLV-1 (IDH) in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

Fifteen families with clustering of infective dermatitis associated with HTLV-1 (IDH) and/or HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) were observed among 28 families of IDH index cases, 93% of them occurring in two generations. With the exception of two mothers of children with IDH, all the mothers with HAM/TSP had at least one child with HAM/TSP. This is the first report of such clustering involving many families.

Validation of epidemiological tools for eczema diagnosis in Brazilian children: the ISAAC's and UK Working Party's criteria.

Background: Instruments for field diagnosis of eczema are increasingly used, and it is essential to understand specific limitations to make best use of their strengths. Our objective was to assess the validity of ISAAC and UK Working Party criteria for field diagnosis of eczema in children.

Methods: We performed a cohort study in urban Brazil.

Psoriasis and obesity: literature review and recommendations for management.

Recent studies have found a relationship between obesity and chronic inflammation, confirmed by the association of high levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-_), interleukin six (IL-6,) and reactive C-protein with an increase in body mass index (BMI). In obese individuals, this inflammatory condition could contribute to the development or aggravation of psoriasis. Analogous phenomena have already been described in other inflammatory chronic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.

Infective dermatitis and human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis in childhood and adolescence.

Background: Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated infective dermatitis (IDH) is a chronic and recurrent eczema occurring during childhood and adolescence. HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a chronic myelopathy of adulthood, presenting with slowly progressive spastic paraparesis and sphincter dysfunction with mild sensory involvement. There are few reports describing an association between IDH and HAM/TSP.

Infective dermatitis associated with the human T cell lymphotropic virus type I in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

Background: Infective dermatitis associated with human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infection is a chronic, relapsing eczema of childhood.

Methods: Children, their mothers, and their siblings underwent serological testing for HTLV-I. Epidemiological data were collected from all seropositive children and their family members, and clinical and dermatological examinations were performed.

HTLV-I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis in a 7-year-old boy associated with infective dermatitis.

HTLV-I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a chronic myelopathy characterized by a slowly progressive spastic paraparesis and sphincter disturbances beginning in adulthood. Only eight well-documented cases occurring in childhood and adolescence have been described. Infective dermatitis associated to the HTLV-I (IDH) is a chronic eczema of childhood occurring in vertically infected carriers.