Human T cell leukemia virus type-I (HTLV-1) infection courses with a myelopathy, the tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). In a case-control study, we compared the neuropsychological profile and functional characteristics in two case HTLV-1-infected groups (asymptomatic and with HAM/TSP) with a control group negative for HTLV-1. Subjects were paired for age, sex, and educational features. The case group differed from control group in neuropsychological measures such as in episodic memory recall, executive functions, and fine motor dexterity measure. Individuals with HAM/TSP have more depressive symptoms and worst performance in activities of daily living (ADL) presenting a less functionality. In multivariate models, the fine motor performance, the executive functioning, the recognition memory, and the depressive symptoms explained part of the variance in functionality. Those findings may contribute to understand of everyday life impairments and limitations of HTLV-1-infected population and to organize the rehabilitation. Once more, based in neuropsychological and functional data, we can reaffirm that HTLV-1 is never a benign condition, but sometimes it is only in a stage coursing with less symptoms.

人类 T 细胞白血病病毒 I 型 (HTLV-1) 感染会导致脊髓病，即热带痉挛性截瘫 (HAM/TSP)。在一项病例对照研究中，我们将两个 HTLV-1 感染组（无症状和 HAM/TSP）的神经心理学特征和功能特征与 HTLV-1 阴性的对照组进行了比较。受试者根据年龄、性别和教育特征进行配对。病例组在神经心理学指标（如情景记忆回忆、执行功能和精细运动灵活性指标）方面与对照组存在差异。患有 HAM/TSP 的人有更多的抑郁症状，日常生活活动 (ADL) 表现最差，功能较差。在多变量模型中，精细运动表现、执行功能、识别记忆和抑郁症状解释了部分功能差异。这些发现可能有助于了解 HTLV-1 感染人群的日常生活障碍和限制并组织康复。再次，根据神经心理学和功能数据，我们可以重申HTLV-1绝不是一种良性病症，但有时它只是处于症状较轻的阶段。