HTLV-1 POLYMYOSITIS

The case is described of an HTLV-1 seropositive Jamaican woman who pre sented with signs and symptoms of polymyositis and myelopathy. A muscl e biopsy showed features of myositis with a mononuclear inflammatory i nfiltrate, variation in fibre size and evidence of regeneration. Immun ocytochemistry showed the mononuclear cells were composed of macrophag es and T-lymphocytes suggesting a cell-mediated response. Multiplex PC R demonstrated the presence of the HTLV-1 tax gene within the muscle. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.