Neurological manifestations of coinfection with HIV and human T-lymphotropic virus type 1

HIV-individuals are at risk for human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) coinfection and neurological diseases. Little is known about the impact of HAART among coinfected patients. In this study, 47 out of 428 HIV individuals were coinfected with HTLV (10.9%). Coinfection was an independent variable associated with neurological outcome (odds ratio 8.73). Coinfection was associated with myelopathy [chi square (X(2)) = 93, P < 0.001], peripheral neuropathy (X(2) = 6.5, P = 0.01), and hepatitis C virus infection (X(2) = 36.5, P < 0.001). HAART did not appear to protect against neurological diseases and had no impact on HTLV proviral load.