Pulmonary involvement in HTLV-I patients has been identified by several authors in Africa, Japan and Brazil. The objective of this controlled study is to establish an association between HAM and lymphocytosis in the bronchoalveolar fluid (BAL). Thirty-five adult patients with non-traumatic and non-tumoral myelopathy filled out a detailed historical survey and underwent a neurological examination, a thoracic radiological evaluation and a CSF examination. Of the patients in this sample, 22 were diagnosed with HTLV-I associated myelopathy and 13 had myelopathies with other etiologies. Lymphocytosis in the BAL fluid was detected in 18 (82%) of the HAM patients and in 2 (15%) of non-HAM patients. We concluded that the lung represents an important organ in the pathogenesis of HAM.
A frequência do comprometimento pulmonar em pacientes com doença neurológica associada ao primeiro vírus linfotrópico humano de células T (HTLV-I) tem sido demonstrado por vários autores na África, Ásia e América Latina. Com o objetivo de estudar o envolvimento pulmonar em pacientes com mielopatia por HTLV-I (HAM) estudamos o lavado bronco-alveolar (LBA) de 22 pacientes com HAM e 13 pacientes com mielopatias de outras etiologias. A contagem diferencial das células do LBA de pacientes com HAM demonstrou percentual de linfócitos maior que 20 em 18 (82%) dos pacientes enquanto aqueles com mielopatias de outra natureza mostraram linfocitose no LBA em apenas 2 (15%). Concluímos que o pulmão se constitui em importante órgão para a patogênese de HAM.