Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma associated with HTLV-1 infection in a Brazilian adolescent

Abstract

SUMMARYWe present the case of a 15-year-old patient infected with HTLV-1 who developed a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, confirmed by histopathological and immunohistochemical examination, as well as clinically and hematologically confirmed leukemia. The patient died 3 months after initial presentation of the disease. The rarity of the disease in this age group justifies the present report.

Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma With a Mixed CD4+ and CD8+ Phenotype and Indolent Course

“…[10][11][12] The presence of granulomas may indicate a protective response of the host. 11 Very few cases of ATL have been reported in children and adolescents, [12][13][14][15] and even fewer in which monoclonal integration of HTLV-I has been demonstrated, 13 as in the present case, confirming the relationship between the lymphoma and the virus. The child most probably acquired HTLV-1 infection by vertical transmission, as he has no history of blood transfusions.…”

Manifestations of the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I infection in childhood and adolescence

“…Seis tinham idade igual ou inferior a 10 anos na época do diagnóstico 31,[77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86][87][88][89][90][91] .…”

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus, type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy: MR findings

“…HTLV-1 is a retrovirus endemic to Japan and the Caribbean ( 1 ). HTLV-1 infects the body’s CD4 cells, while HTLV-2 infects CD8 cells ( 2 ). There are several routes of viral transmission, including sexual, parenteral, transfusion, contamination of needles, and breastfeeding ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ).…”

“…However, the disease is associated with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), which is an aggressive malignancy with low (6-month) survival rates ( 7 ). Several other diseases are associated with HTVL-1 infection, including pneumopathy, uveitis, eczema, xerosis, folliculitis, and myelopathy ( 2 , 8 , 9 , 10 ).…”