Changes in lung function in patients with human T cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) associated myelopathy residents in the eastern Brazilian Amazon

HTLV, the causative agent of HTLV-1 associated myelopathy (HAM/TSP), features obscurity to pulmonary lesions. To investigate the pulmonary function in patients who ware HAM/TSP in the Amazon. From 2013 to 2015, 19 patients who were HAM/TSP definitive, 11 who were HAM/TSP probable and 13 without HAM/TSP participated in the study and underwent a spirometry test in compliance with the standards established by the Brazilian Consensus on Spirometry (Pereira,C.A.C.J.Pneumol.2002;3:1-82).This research was approved by Ethics Committee-Instituto Evandro Chagas (292251). 18.5%(8/43) of all of the patients had obstructive or restrictive lung disease, however none was without HAM/TSP (p=0.04). Pulmonary function values were also compared.The results suggest changes in lung function in those who have developed HAM/TSP. Thus, it seems reasonable to assume that such changes may be linked to possible lung inflammation.