O retrovirus HTLV-1 tem sido associado a paraparesia espástica idiopática crônica (PEIC) no homem; contudo uma compreensão completa dessa associação é motivo de debate. Selecionamos os estudos mundiais mais expressivos sobre esse assunto no período de 1985 a 1996 e verificamos que 1261 dos 2811 (44,9%) dos pacientes relatados eram HTLV-1 positivos. A média de idade era de 39,5 anos com predomínio feminino de 1,9:1. Estes resultados não excluem a causalidade do HTLV-1 como um germe associado a PEIC em todo o mundo.

HTLV-I has been associated with a chronic idiopatic spastic paraparesis (CHISPA) in man; however, a complete understanding of this association is still debated. We selected the most comprehensible papers on this topic between 1985 and 1996, and found that 1261 out of 2811 patients (44.9%) reported, throughout the world, were HTLV-I positive. The mean age was 39.5 years and there was a female predominance of 1.9:1. These results do not exclude the causality of HTLV-I as a germen associated to CHISPA; however, other causes (e.g., toxic, immunosuppressors) must be considered as participating in the multistep neurodegeneration observed in CHISPA throughout the world.