Neurological Aspects of HIV/Human T Lymphotropic Virus Coinfection

Human T lymphotropic virus type 1 is associated with some neurologic diseases, mainly human Tlymphotropic virus type 1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis. Human T lymphotropicvirus type 2 has also been associated with similar cases of human T lymphotropic virus type1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis, but evidences for a definitive relationshipare less clear. On the other hand, neurologic manifestations of HIV infection are quite common,affecting more than one third of patients in HIV clinics. Seroepidemiologic studies show that HIVinfectedindividuals are at an increased risk for human T lymphotropic virus infection and viceversa in comparison with the general population. Furthermore, HIV/human T lymphotropic viruscoinfection has been associated with distinctive immunophenotypes and an increased risk fordevelopment of neurodegenerative conditions. Thus, studies on HIV/human T lymphotropic viruscoinfection have a practice clinical importance. In this review, we aim to discuss clinical andlaboratorial data focusing on neurologic diseases in HIV/human T lymphotropic virus coinfection.