HTLV-I-Associated Myelopathy in a Patient with Chronic Renal Failure

A case of human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type I (HTLV-I)-associated myelopathy (HAM) occurring in a 62-year-old Japanese male with a history of hemodialysis and repeated blood tranfusions due to chronic renal failure (CRF) is reported. The patient was a lifelong resident of Chiba Prefecture, a nonendemic area for HTLV-I infections. The clinical course was characterized by abrupt onset and rapid progression of neurological signs and symptoms, which appeared to have responded quite well to prednisolone. Although patients with a history of CRF, hemodialysis, and transfusion of blood units which were not screened for anti-HTLV-I antibodies appear to belong to the high risk group for HTLV-I infections and subsequent development of HAM, reports on such cases have been scanty. Only 3 cases have been reported to date. It appears quite possible that many patients with CRF and HAM remain misdiagnosed.