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HTLV1

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HTLV1, Human T-lymphotropic Virus 1, HTLV-I Infection

  • See Also
  1. Retrovirus
  2. Oncogene
  • Epidemiology
  1. Worldwide Prevalence: 5-10 Million
  2. Primarily found in Caribbean islands and Japan
  • Pathophysiology
  1. Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a Retrovirus similar to HIV
    1. Results in life-long infection characterized by Immunosuppression and multi-system disease
    2. HTLV-1 was the first identified Retrovirus in humans (initially discovered in T Cell Leukemia patients)
  2. Transmission
    1. Breast Feeding (20-30% transmission rates)
    2. Sexual contact
    3. Bloodborne (needle sharing, contaminated Blood Transfusion)
  • Findings
  1. Asymptomatic in >90% of patients
  2. Common presentations
    1. Uveitis
    2. Dermatitis
    3. Pneumonitis
  • Labs
  • Diagnosis
  1. HTLV1 Antibody via enzyme-linked immunoassay
    1. Requires second confirmatory test (e.g. Western Blot, PCR)
  • Complications
  1. Adult T-cell Leukemia or Lymphoma
  2. Opportunistic Infections
  3. Progressive neurologic disorders (HAM or TSP)
    1. Two condition names for the same disorder
      1. HTLV-1 associated Myelopathy (HAM, 5% lifetime Prevalence in HTLV1 infection)
      2. Tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP, 2% lifetime Prevalence in HTLV1 infection)
    2. Findings
      1. Progressive spastic weakness of the lower limbs
      2. Lower back pain
      3. Spastic gait
      4. Hyperreflexia
      5. Bowel and Bladder dysfunction
  • Management
  1. No current specific treatment is available
  2. Symptomatic management
  3. Corticosteroids, immunomodulators and chemotherapeutic agents are used
  • Resources
  1. HTLV1 (WHO)
    1. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/human-t-lymphotropic-virus-type-1
  2. HTLV1 (Stat Pearls)
    1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560825/
  • References
  1. Eusebio-Ponce (2019) Rev Esp Quimioter 32(6):485-496 +PMID: 31648512 [PubMed]