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Subacute myelopathy (HAM/TSP) is the main neurological manifestation of human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1) infection.1 This virus is endemic in central Africa, Caribbean countries, and Japan. It is transmitted through sexual contacts, during lactation, and by blood transfusions. The risk of seroconversion after blood transfusion is 40%–60%. Around 5% of the carriers will develop clinical manifestations; only 0.3% of them will have a myelopathy. Inmunosupresion enhances the risk of infection, reduces the latency, and accelerates the clinical pictures. We are reporting the first documented case of HTLV-1 infection through an organ transplantation in a western country. In another organ recipient the vehicle of the virus was the blood transfused during the surgical procedure.2
A 44 year old woman developed alcoholic cirrhosis …