We report a case of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-I associated myelopathy (HAM) with ossification of the thoracic yellow ligament.
The patient was a 49-year-old woman who had a 7-year history of low back pain, gait disturbance and bladder dysfunction. On physical examinations range of her lumbar motion was severely limited, and hypesthesia below the level of Th8, hyper reflexia of the upper and lower extremities and spastic gait were observed. Lateral tomography disclosed a ossification of yellow ligament at the level of Th10, 11 and Th12, also a mild atrophy of the spinal cord was recognized. on MRI. Antibodies to HTLV-I was elavated in her serum and cerebro-spinal fluid. Considering these results, it was proper to make her diagnosis as HAM.
