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Arch Neurol. 1999;56:1167.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

In a recent article, Douen and colleagues¹ described a neurologic complication of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection in the absence of spastic paraparesis. We read the article with interest because we have reported a similar case.² A 63-year-old Japanese woman complained of flaccid paraplegia for 13 years. Tendon reflexes were hypoactive in the legs, and a Babinski sign was observed. Vibratory sense was diminished distally in the legs. Motor nerve conduction velocity was low borderline. Sensory nerve conduction velocity was normal, but sensory evoked potentials revealed delayed N9 potentials (11.1 and 10.7 milliseconds) with normal spinal and central responses. The H and F waves were normal. Needle electromyography showed myogenic changes in the upper limb and paraspinal muscles and neurogenic changes in the lower limbs. Serum creatine kinase and myoglobin levels were mildly elevated. Antibodies for HTLV-1 were found in both the serum (titre, 1:131,072) and cerebrospinal . . . [Full Text of this Article]