Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma in northeastern Brazil: a clinical, histopathologic, and molecular study

• Published in: Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) Vol. 21; no. 1; p. 65
• Main Authors: Barbosa, H S, Bittencourt, A L, Barreto de Araújo, I, Pereira Filho, C S, Furlan, R, Pedrosa, C, Lessa, G, Harrington, Jr, W, Galvão Castro, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.1999
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Blotting, Southern; Blotting, Western; Brazil - epidemiology; DNA, Viral - analysis; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; HTLV-I Antibodies - blood; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 - genetics; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 - immunology; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 - isolation & purification; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Immunophenotyping; Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell - epidemiology; Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell - pathology; Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell - virology; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Sex Distribution; Skin - pathology; Brazil
• ISSN: 1525-4135
• DOI: 10.1097/00126334-199905010-00009

The state of Bahia in the northeastern coast of Brazil is a region in which HTLV-I infection is endemic. This study investigated the characteristics of 28 HTLV-I-associated lymphomas/leukemias in this region. HTLV-I-infection diagnosis was based on serologic study, Southern blot analysis, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in neoplastic tissue. The main clinical differences between these lymphomas and adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cases from other endemic areas were as follows. The mean age was 47 years; 20% of the cases occurred in young adults; and a predominance was found among male subjects (2:1), blacks, and of those of mixed race (96%). Histologically, 20 cases were T-cell pleomorphic leukemia/lymphoma, 5 were Mycosis fungoides-like cutaneous lymphoma, and 3 were CD30+ large-cell anaplastic lymphoma. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated 4 cases of CD8+ lymphoma. Proviral genomic sequences were demonstrated by PCR in 9 lymph node biopsy specimens and in 3 skin biopsy specimens. Southern blot was performed and was positive in 8 cases.