Limitations in daily activities, risk awareness, social participation, and pain in patients with HTLV-1 using the SALSA and Participation scales

Fibromyalgia in patients infected with HTLV-1 and HTLV-2

Background

Reports on the association between HTLV-2 infection and the development of diseases in the human host are rare, which has led the scientific community to believe that HTLV-2 is not an important etiological agent of lymphoproliferative or neurodegenerative disorders, which is the case for HTLV-1. In the present study, we demonstrated cases of fibromyalgia in HTLV-1 carriers and, in an unprecedented finding, in two patients with confirmed HTLV-2 infection.

Methods

A total of 957 individuals visited the Virology Laboratory at the Federal University of Pará for screening and confirmation tests for HTLV-1/2 infection. Individuals with confirmed HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 infection were clinically evaluated for signs and symptoms associated with infection.

Results

Sixty-nine individuals (7.2%) were identified as positive for HTLV infection, with 56 confirmed cases of HTLV-1 infection (5.9%), 12 cases of HTLV-2 infection (1.2%) and one case classified as undetermined (0.1%). Sixteen (23.2%) of these patients presented with rheumatological signs and complained of diffuse pain throughout the body; 12 of whom were infected by HTLV-1 (75%) and 4 were infected by HTLV-2 (25%). After anamnesis and careful evaluation, four patients were diagnosed with fibromyalgia, two of whom were infected by HTLV-1 (16.7%; 2/12) and two by HTLV-2 (50%; 2/4). The clinical follow-up and laboratory analysis results are reported in detail in this paper.

Conclusion

Considering the clinical cases presented herein as the first reports of patients with HTLV-2 infection with clinical symptoms of fibromyalgia, the importance of further studies on the pathogenicity of HTLV-2, similar to what have already been performed for HTLV-1, is highlighted. Our results also confirm previous evidence of an association between HTLV-1 infection and fibromyalgia.

Providing a Nursing Care Plan as a Requirement for Secondary Prevention for People Living With HTLV-1

Introduction

The absence of nursing care plans aimed at people living with HTLV-1 (PLHTLV) led us to develop and test a proposed nursing care plan based on the evaluation of 55 PLHTLV to outline interventions according to the clinical stage.

Methods

After interviews with symptomatic patients, nursing diagnoses were made using the NANDA International Nursing Diagnoses (The International Nursing Knowledge Association). Subsequently, interventions were selected through the Classification of Nursing Interventions (NIC), and expected results were selected through the Classification of Nursing Outcomes (NOC).

Results

The actual diagnoses included (ii) chronic pain, (iii) impaired urinary elimination, and (iv) sexual dysfunction; the health promotion diagnosis was (i) risk-prone health behavior; and the risk diagnoses were (i) risk of feeling powerless and (ii) risk of falls in adults. Nursing care must prevent the lack of adherence to monitoring, establish goals and promote family involvement. A safe home environment requires intervention for fall prevention. Full support in understanding pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies for chronic pain is needed. Interventions allow patients with impaired urinary function to be reintroduced to society. For sexual dysfunction, it is necessary to discuss safe sex and behavioral changes. Regarding risk behaviors, it is necessary to guide the patient/family, adapt language to the education level of these individuals, and help them better accept the condition, among other guidelines.

Conclusion

The development of a nursing care plan for PLHTLV is essential for preventing the rapid progression of disease and the improvement of the quality of life of PLHTLV and should be included in the multidisciplinary approach to the secondary level of prevention of HTLV-1.

Occupational Therapy for People Living With Human T-Lymphotropic Virus 1: Importance and Effectiveness of an Intervention Plan at the Level of Prevention and Rehabilitation

Introduction

Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy (HAM) restricts activities of daily living (ADLs), affecting health and quality of life. Occupational therapy is used to promote independence during ADL in people living with HTLV (PLHTLV).

Objective

To quantify the clinical aspects, levels of functionality, performance in ADLs and occupational roles of PLHTLV and propose an occupational therapeutic intervention.

Method

A cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study was designed with 40 PLHTLV monitored at two referral laboratories of the Federal University of Pará. The Evandro Chagas Research Institute Neurological Disability Scale (EIPEC-2), the Barthel Index and the Occupational Roles Identification List were applied. The G test and Fisher’s exact test (to identify associations between qualitative variables), the Mann–Whitney test (to identify associations between quantitative variables) and Pearson correlation analysis (to identify associations between the total Barthel Index and EIPEC-2 scores) were performed with Microsoft Excel and BioEstat 5.0, and the significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05.

Results

Motor aspects, the presence of spasticity, sensory aspects, and pain in the lumbar region and lower limbs were significantly (p = 0.0002) higher among symptomatic individuals, who also had more difficulties urinating, traveling up and down stairs and transferring from a chair to a bed. Being a worker, performing housework and socializing (with friends or family members) were the most affected activities among HAM patients.

Conclusion

The impact of HAM on PLHTLV should include an intervention plan with occupational therapists in rehabilitation programs to create an important third-level prevention initiative, which may help achieve short-, medium-, and long-term goals. Asymptomatic PLHTLV should also be able to prevent future ADL impairment.