Clinical manifestation of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-I-associated myelopathy and vesicopathy.

Patients with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-associated myelopathy (HAM) sometimes have accompanying voiding disturbances. We performed clinical surveys and urodynamic examinations on 25 untreated patients with HAM. Although 4 cases (16%) were entirely aware of urinary symptoms, the onset of urinary symptoms preceded other pyramidal symptoms in 6 cases (24%). All cases suffered from dysuria. The cause of dysuria was thought mainly to be detrusor external sphincter dyssynergia, but in some cases an underactive detrusor and poor opening of the bladder neck at voiding were also the causes of dysuria. There was a tendency for urinary dysfunction to become worse as the primary disease progresses. Patients with HAM must be carefully followed up by urologists in order to prevent deterioration of the urinary tract.