[A case of polyneuropathy with B-CLL and HTLV-I associated myelopathy (HAM)]

We report a case of polyneuropathy associated with chronic B lymphoid leukemia (B-CLL) and HAM. A 65-year-old man had an initial onset with polyneuropathy, then myelopathy appeared. High HTLV-I antibody and anti-ganglioside antibodies were observed. The biopsy examination of the sural nerve showed mainly demyelinated changes. Muscle weakness gradually improved after cyclophosphamide therapy. Anti-ganglioside antibodies were also decreased in titer. This case suggested that the production of antiganglioside antibodies and the occurrence of polyneuropathy might be caused by both factors of HTLV-I infected T cells and B cell tumors.