Pathogenesis of HTLV-associated Myelopathy

HTLV-I infects around 15 million people worldwide.Only 3% of HTLV-I-infected persons develop a subacuteneurological disease named Tropical spasticparaparesis (TSP) or HTLV-I-associated myelopathy(HAM). Whereas there is no doubt that immunemediatedphenomena are involved in the productionof TSP/HAM, the specific mechanisms have beenunclear until recent times. During the last year, twomain hypotheses have been postulated for the pathogenesisof HAM/TSP. The first suggest that molecularmimicry could be involved (Levin et al. Nature Med2002;8:509-13).