| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5626957 | Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery | 2017 | 5 Pages |
â¢Patients with HTLV-1 have a high prevalence of cognitive impairment.â¢Patients with HTLV-1 without paraparesis could have cognitive impairment.â¢Patients with HTLV-1 with paraparesis or anxiety have a worst quality of life.
ObjectiveTo characterize cognitive alterations among patients with HTLV-1, ascertain what is associated with these alterations and evaluate these patients' quality of life.Patients and methodsThis was a cross-sectional study. Patients infected by HTLV-1 who were seen at the Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital from March 2014 to June 2015 were included in the study. A semi-structured questionnaire and the Mini-Mental State Examination, Color Trails Test, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-III), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF36) were used. “Low IQ” scores were defined for WAIS-III as under 80 points. Results Fifty-five patients were evaluated: 26% presented altered MMSE, 38%, altered Color Trails Test; 10.9% presented low total IQ; 12.7%, low executive IQ; and 10.9%, low verbal IQ. There was no association between low total IQ and any characteristics of the patient or of the HTLV infection. Paraparesis and anxiety disorders were significantly associated with worse quality of life.ConclusionHigh frequency of cognitive impairment was found in patients with HTLV, thus suggesting that these alterations are an important clinical manifestation of this virus.
