Infection with Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type I in Patients with Leukemia

Abstract

Among 211 adults with leukemia who received multiple transfusions, 6 were found to be seropositive for human T-cell leukemia virus Type I (HTLV-I). Before the positive serum specimens were obtained, these patients received a mean of 14 units of red cells and 78 units of platelets. Seroconversion could be documented in three patients. None of the 6 patients seropositive for HTLV-I had a T-cell leukemia, other illnesses attributable to HTLV-I infection, or risk factors for HTLV-I infection other than transfusion: none were seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus. Patients with leukemia who receive multiple transfusions appear to be at risk for HTLV-I infection.

A serosurvey for HTLV-I among high-risk populations and normal adults in Egypt

“…However, the low prevalence demonstrated among the four risk groups would not appear to pose a health hazard to the general population. The absence of antibody among blood recipients and prostitutes is noteworthy, and is in contrast to the elevated rates found in these groups in the United States [21,22]. In addition, our prevalence of 0 7 % in drug addicts is minimal in comparison to the extremely high rates (49 %) found in this group in the United States [23].…”

Human T cell lymphotropic virus type I genomic expression and impact on intracellular signaling pathways during neurodegenerative disease and leukemia

“…Since HTLV-I is strongly cell-associated during invasion of its human host, cell-free virus has been difficult to demonstrate in vivo, although such an infection has been achieved recently in an in vitro experimental system (25). Routes of HTLV-I infection, all of which likely occur via the passage of infected cells, include (1) vertical transmission from mothers to their children via prenatal, transplacental blood exchange, the birthing process, or postnatal breast feeding (26)(27)(28); (2) heterosexual and homosexual transmission (28,29); (3) transfusion of blood or blood products which contain infected white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets (30)(31)(32); and (4) shared contaminated needles among drug addicts (33). This review will focus on the role of HTLV-I in the etiology of neoplasia within the human peripheral blood T lymphocyte population, and a progressive neurologic disorder based primarily within the central nervous system.…”

Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans

“…ln highIy endemic areas such as southern Japan and the West Indies, with a 0.5-5% HTLV-I seroprevaIence among b100d donors Minamoto et al, 1988), multi-transfused patients (Barbara, 1994) including renaI transplant recipients (Linhares et al, 1994) have high HTL V -1 seroprevaIence. Screening of bIood donations has been implemented in Japan (Maeda et al, 1984;Okochi et al, 1984), French Guiana and the Caribbean isIands of Martinique and Guadeloupe (Massari et aL., 1994;PilloneI et aL., 1994), the United States (Williams et al, 1988;Lee et al, 1991;SandIer et al, 1991), Canada, France (Couroucé et al, 1993;Massari et al, 1994;PiloneI et al, 1994) and Denmark (Bohn Christian sen et aL., 1995) and Netherlands during the 1ast decade.…”