Spastic ataxia associated with human T‐cell lymphotrophic virus type II infection

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Abstract
Human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type one (HTLV‐1) is associated with tropical spastic paraparesis or HTLV‐I‐associated myelopathy. We report 2 women with a spastic ataxic illness similar to HTLV‐I‐associated myelopathy infected solely with HTLV‐II. Identification of HTLV‐II infection was made serologically, by polymerase chain reaction, and by viral culture (in 1 woman). One woman, treated with 200 mg of danazol orally, three times daily, had pronounced improvement in ambulation, nocturnal spasticity, and nighttime urinary frequency. It appears that infection with HTLV‐II may cause an illness similar to HTLV‐I‐associated myelopathy, but distinguished by the presence of ataxia.