The human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) is transmitted by blood transfusions that contain
cell components as one of the virus transmission modes. We carried out mass screening of sera from seropositive
donors by a gelatin particle agglutination test to prevent the spread of HTLV-I by transfusion. Seroconversion rates
were compared before and after screening. The results show a remarkable decrease in the rate of infection from 53.6
to 0.9%. Therefore, it is certain that screening by the agglutination method prevents the spread of HTLV-I
transmission in blood transfusions.
The authors examined peripheral blood samples from patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) using the monoclonal antibody Ki-67 which detects a nuclear antigen present in actively proliferating cells. In patients with chronic ATL, the percentage of Ki-67-positive cells was significantly lower than in acute ATL patients (median values, 3.3% versus 18.9%, P less than 0.001). Furthermore, there was a significant inverse correlation between the percentage of Ki-67-positive cells and the length of survival (P less than 0.001). Serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) levels also showed a significant inverse correlation with survival, but this was less strong than that for Ki-67 (0.01 less than P less than 0.02). Thus, Ki-67 positivity appears to indicate the aggressiveness of ATL, and can possibly be used for the clinical classification of ATL patients as well as for the prediction of prognosis.
SUMMARYSixteen families, each with two or more cases of adult T-cell leukemia or lymphoma were found in the Nagasaki district. Eight of the families had a parent with lymphoma. In the other eight families siblings were involved. Four families with sibling cases are presented in detail. Antibody titres to adult T-cell leukemia associated antigen (ATLA) in cases of ATL, CTL, T-CLL, and pre-ATL cases in Nagasaki were all positive. Of the non-leukemic T-cell malignant lymphoma 62.5 per cent were positive for antibody. The positive rate in healthy spouses and siblings of ATLL patients for ATLA antibody was high (67.5 per cent and 40 per cent respectively). The possibility of ATLV infection through spouses or from mother to child and the meaning of the high familial incidence of ATLL is discussed.KEY WORDS Adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) Adult T cell leukemia virus (ATLV) Adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLA) Human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV)
The human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) is transmitted by blood transfusions that contain cell components as one of the virus transmission modes. We carried out mass screening of sera from seropositive donors by a gelatin particle agglutination test to prevent the spread of HTLV-I by transfusion. Seroconversion rates were compared before and after screening. The results show a remarkable decrease in the rate of infection from 53.6 to 0.9%. Therefore, it is certain that screening by the agglutination method prevents the spread of HTLV-I transmission in blood transfusions.
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