ASSOCIATION OF (TROPICAL) ATAXIC NEUROPATHY WITH HTLV-II

Jamaican Neuropathy of the ataxic type (tropical ataxic neuropathy TA N! and spastic type (tropical spastic paraparesis TSP!) have been rec ognized for over a century in Jamaica. The recent association of TSP w ith HTLV-I (TSP/HAM) is now well established. We now present evidence for a possible association between a TAN-like illness with HTLV-II in four females aged 34-49. All presented with ataxic gait and all four h ave prominent mental changes. Three of the four also have minor motor deficits with urinary frequency and two have nocturnal leg cramps. All have serum antibody and all had PCR evidence of HTLV-II infection. An tibody to HTLV-II is present in CSF from two subjects. The distinctive picture of prominent ataxia and altered mental status in these subjec ts contrasts with a predominantly myelopathic picture seen in TSP/HAM.