The objective of this study is to describe the chronic pain characteristics in individuals infected with human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) per subgroup (asymptomatic, oligosymptomatic, and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP)) compared with controls with chronic pain without HTLV-1. This is a cross-sectional study investigating associations between pain profile, psychopathological symptoms, and quality of life. Individuals infected with HTLV-1 refer high-intensity pain compared with controls, with more severe characteristics being present in oligosymptomatic and HAM/TSP individuals. Oligosymptomatic individuals have a tendency of diffuse and frequent pain, mainly in the head/neck region and more depressive symptoms, resembling nociplastic pain. Neuropathic pain was localized in the lower limbs in all infected groups, worse in HAM/TSP individuals, and associated with a worse perception of quality of life. Pain was associated to higher levels of TNF-alpha and interferon-gamma. HTLV-1 pain is generally more severe when compared with other chronic pain syndromes, being present mainly in the lower limbs. Certain characteristics are typical, depending on the affected group. Oligosymptomatic and HAM/TSP individuals present more diffuse pain, with higher intensity and greater impact in quality of life. Increased levels of inflammatory cytokines are associated with HTLV-1-related pain.

本研究的目的是描述每个亚组（无症状、寡症状和 HTLV-1 相关脊髓病/热带痉挛性截瘫 (HAM/TSP)）感染 1 型人类 T 细胞淋巴细胞病毒 (HTLV-1) 的个体的慢性疼痛特征)) 与没有 HTLV-1 的慢性疼痛对照组相比。这是一项横断面研究，调查疼痛特征、精神病理症状和生活质量之间的关联。与对照组相比，感染 HTLV-1 的个体出现高强度疼痛，寡症状个体和 HAM/TSP 个体存在更严重的特征。少症状个体有弥漫性和频繁的疼痛倾向，主要发生在头/颈部区域，并且有更多的抑郁症状，类似于伤害性疼痛。所有感染组的神经性疼痛都集中在下肢，HAM/TSP 个体的情况更严重，并且与生活质量的感知较差相关。疼痛与较高水平的 TNF-α 和干扰素-γ 有关。与其他慢性疼痛综合征相比，HTLV-1 疼痛通常更严重，主要出现在下肢。某些特征是典型的，具体取决于受影响的群体。寡症状和 HAM/TSP 个体表现出更弥漫的疼痛，强度更高，对生活质量的影响更大。炎症细胞因子水平升高与 HTLV-1 相关疼痛有关。