Comparison of HTLV-associated myelopathy (HAM) in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients at a tertiary South African hospital

Progressive HIV infection in the presence of a raised CD4+ count: HIV/HTLV-1 co-infection

“…[6] A number of these conditions have been described in SA, including ATLL, HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/ TSP) and infectious dermatitis. [8][9][10] Although the life-time risk for HTLV-1-associated diseases in general is considered close to 10%, an indication of a long history of viral-human co-evolution, [6] this may be an under-representation when the interaction between HTLV-1 and other infective agents is considered. TB has been found to occur more frequently in patients infected with HTLV-1 and is also thought to be associated with a worse prognosis.…”

Progressive HIV infection in the presence of a raised CD4+ count: HIV/HTLV-1 co-infection

“…[6] A number of these conditions have been described in SA, including ATLL, HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/ TSP) and infectious dermatitis. [8][9][10] Although the life-time risk for HTLV-1-associated diseases in general is considered close to 10%, an indication of a long history of viral-human co-evolution, [6] this may be an under-representation when the interaction between HTLV-1 and other infective agents is considered. TB has been found to occur more frequently in patients infected with HTLV-1 and is also thought to be associated with a worse prognosis.…”

Leukemia and Retroviral Disease

“…Another group reported that the prevalence of HAM/TSP among HTLV-1/HIV-1-coinfected patients in Brazil was 8% [101]. Schutte and coworkers [102] observed in a cohort of patients in Pretoria, South Africa, that HTLV-1/HIV-1-coinfected individuals were prone to developing HAM/TSP at an earlier age than when infected with HTLV-1. Furthermore, the period of time in which the coinfected patients remained asymptomatic was shorter than the monoinfected patients (less than 3 years) [102].…”

“…Schutte and coworkers [102] observed in a cohort of patients in Pretoria, South Africa, that HTLV-1/HIV-1-coinfected individuals were prone to developing HAM/TSP at an earlier age than when infected with HTLV-1. Furthermore, the period of time in which the coinfected patients remained asymptomatic was shorter than the monoinfected patients (less than 3 years) [102]. Furthermore, Casseb and colleagues [101] demonstrated that the levels of HTLV-1 proviral DNA load in coinfected patients with HAM/TSP were five times higher than in asymptomatic coinfected individuals.…”