[Sjögren's syndrome and HTLV-I myelopathy]

The objective of this study is to describe the clinical and immunological aspects observed in patients with both "tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-I associated myelopathy" (TSP/HAM) and ocular dryness. In 10 such patients clinical and biological examinations completed with a biopsy of secondary salivary glands were performed to assess the etiology of the ocular dryness. According to the Chisholm's scale, 70% of the patients had a biopsy grade 3 or grade 4. Polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia was found in 90% of patients and lymphocytic alveolitis in 80%. Three patients had past medical history of chronic uveltis. All the findings were compatible with Sjögren's syndrome, however no characteristic immunological disorders were found. Antinuclear antibodies and rheumatoid factor proved negative in all cases.