CHRONIC DACRYOSIALADENITIS IN HTLV-I-ASSOCIATED MYELOPATHY

A prospective study was carried out on 48 patients with HTLV I associa ted myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) to assess the as sociation between this entity and Sjogren's syndrome. Fourteen patient s (29.1%) had chronic dacryosialadenitis confirmed by a positive Schir mer's test and salivary gland biopsy. None of these patients had evide nce of collagen disease and tests for Ro, La, and rheumatoid factor we re negative except in one case. Therefore, the dacryosialadenitis coul d not be classified as either primary or secondary Sjogren's syndrome. Ten of the 14 patients (71.4%) had other systems (haematological, art icular, dermatological, or respiratory) involved apart from the neurol ogical and exocrine gland pathology. The findings suggest that the dac ryosialadenitis associated with HTLV I is a disease of viral origin di stinct from Sjogren's syndrome.