ISSN:
1573-7284
Keywords:
Clinical manifestations
;
Diagnosis
;
Epidemiology
;
HIV-1
;
HTLV-I
;
HTLV-II
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The human T-lymphotropic virus type II (HTLV-II) has recently been associated with the genesis of some subacute neurological syndromes and, rarely, with atypical T-lymphoid malignancies. The virus is endemic in some Amerindian and African tribes, and among intravenous drug users (IDUs) in North America and Europe. Given that HTLV-II is transmitted by the same routes as other human retroviruses, the screening of antibodies to HTLV-II in blood donors has became a matter of controversy in some countries. Herein, we describe the clinical, epidemiological and virological features of 113 individuals with HTLV-II infection identified in Spain up to September 1995. Most of them (94/113; 83%) were male, and all but seven were natives. Four were African immigrants living in Madrid and 3 had been born in other European countries. All but six subjects were IDUs, and sexual transmission of HTLV-II and transfusion were involved in five and one individual, respectively. Eighty-four percent of the IDUs infected with HTLV-II were co-infected by HIV-1 (93/107). Clinical manifestations potentially linked to HTLV-II were absent, although an IDU male co-infected by HIV-1 and HTLV-II developed a severe non-inflammatory proximal myopathy. In conclusion, HTLV-II infection is present in Spain, mainly among IDUs, with a growing incidence and a current overall prevalence of 2.0 percent.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00499462
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