[Improvement of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 associated demyelinating neuropathy with corticosteroid therapy]

The patient was a 58-year-old man, who was hospitalized with progressive bilateral leg weakness, and sensory impairment in all four extremities. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) was suspected based on an electrophysiological examination, and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (IVIg) was initiated. However, his symptoms progressed. The serum and cerebrospinal fluid were positive for human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) antibodies; hence the patient was diagnosed as having HTLV-1 associated neuropathy. After administration of corticosteroid, muscle strength markedly improved. Thus, our findings suggest that rather than IVIg, corticosteroid therapy is recommended for the treatment of CIDP like neuropathy in HTLV-1 infected patients.