HTLV-I serostatus of mothers of patients with adult T-cell leukemia and HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

HTLV-I serostatus of mothers of patients with adult T-cell leukemia and HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis.

J Hum Virol. 1998 May-Jun;1(4):302-5. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/99211160
Bartholomew C; Jack N; Edwards J; Charles W; Corbin D; Cleghorn FR; Blattner WA; University of the West Indies, Department of Medicine, Port of; Spain, Trinidad.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: It has been shown that > 90% of mothers of HTLV-I-infected children were themselves carriers of HTLV-I. This study was designed to determine the HTLV-I serostatus of mothers of patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), and to assess the association of age of exposure and disease outcome. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of the HTLV-I serostatus of mothers of HTLV-I-seropositive patients with ATL and HAM/TSP, 36 living mothers of patients with ATL and 15 mothers of patients with TSP/HAM were traced and enrolled. RESULTS: Five of the 15 (33%) mothers of patients with HAM/TSP and 35 of the 36 (97.2%) mothers of patients with ATL were HTLV-I-seropositive. All patients were breast-fed and none received blood transfusions. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that infection with HTLV-I in early childhood can lead to ATL in later life, and that HAM/TSP can also result from early infection but more commonly results from infection acquired in adulthood. There are several reports of posttransfusion HAM/TSP, but ATL has not been reported following blood transfusion except in patients who were immunocompromised. Because the newborn infant is considered to be immunoincompetent, it seems that this is a necessary factor for the development of ATL after infection.

Keywords: JOURNAL ARTICLE Adolescence Adult Age Factors Aged Aged, 80 and over Child Disease Transmission, Vertical Female Human HTLV-I/*IMMUNOLOGY HTLV-I Antibodies/*BLOOD HTLV-I Infections/*EPIDEMIOLOGY Leukemia, T-Cell/*VIROLOGY Male Middle Age Mothers Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic/*VIROLOGY Prevalence Retrospective Studies Risk Factors Seroepidemiologic Studies Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Time Factors
990730
A9971141

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Gill Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Quest Diagnostics, Roche and Trimeris, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1999. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 1999. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .