Avaliação funcional e qualidade de vida de pacientes portadores do vírus linfotrópico de células T humanas acompanhados no núcleo de medicina tropical - UFPA

Abstract

The Human T cell Limphotropic Virus (HTLV) is a retrovirus with low pathogenicity and long term latency, wich is usually associated to Adult T cell Leukemia/Lymphoma (ATLL) and to a neurological disease named HTLV Associated Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Four subtypes are currently known, but this research studied the subtypes I and II (HTV-1 and HTLV-2), and the one related to illnesses is HTLV-1; here we are considering neurological, musculoskeletal and rheumatological manifestations, wich usually influence on functional capacity and quality of life of these patients. Objective: To assess functional capacity and quality of life of patients with HTLV. Methods: The study design is observational, descriptive, analytical and transversal. The research was developed with 53 patients from both gender, followed at Tropical Medicine Center, in Belém, Pará, Brazil. The data collection was done in the period from april to october, 2010. Each patient was evaluated once with two instruments: one questionnaire of quality of life intitled Functional Assessment of HIV Infection, validated for HIV related syndromes, and one functional measurement scale, the scale of Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Results: most of the patients, considering functional capacity, were independent on their daily living, instrumental and occupational activities, even in the presence of sensory-motor complaints. However, the quality of life was considered in a low level, even for those with good functional performance. Conclusions: the discrepancy between results of motor independence and poor quality of life was related to psychosocial factors of HTLV infection, such as lack of family support, ignorance about the disease aspects, fear of the development of disabilities in the future and discriminations in social relations.