High prevalence of skin disorders among HTLV-1 infected individuals independent of clinical status

• Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases Vol. 7; no. 11; p. e2546
• Main Authors: Okajima, Renata, Oliveira, Augusto C P, Smid, Jerusa, Casseb, Jorge, Sanches, Jr, Jose Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.11.2013; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adult; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Central nervous system diseases; Dermatitis; Distribution; Female; HTLV-I (Virus); Human T-lymphotropic virus 1; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 - immunology; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 - pathogenicity; Humans; Immune response; Infections; Male; Middle Aged; Physiological aspects; Prevalence; Skin diseases; Skin Diseases - virology; Studies; Viral infections
• ISSN: 1935-2735; 1935-2727; 1935-2735
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002546

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection can increase the risk of developing skin disorders. This study evaluated the correlation between HTLV-1 proviral load and CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells count among HTLV-1 infected individuals, with or without skin disorders (SD) associated with HTLV-1 infection [SD-HTLV-1: xerosis/ichthyosis, seborrheic dermatitis or infective dermatitis associated to HTLV-1 (IDH)]. A total of 193 HTLV-1-infected subjects underwent an interview, dermatological examination, initial HTLV-1 proviral load assay, CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells count, and lymphproliferation assay (LPA). A total of 147 patients had an abnormal skin condition; 116 (79%) of them also had SD-HTLV-1 and 21% had other dermatological diagnoses. The most prevalent SD-HTLV-1 was xerosis/acquired ichthyosis (48%), followed by seborrheic dermatitis (28%). Patients with SD-HTLV-1 were older (51 vs. 47 years), had a higher prevalence of myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) (75%), and had an increased first HTLV-1 proviral load and basal LPA compared with patients without SD-HTLV-1. When excluding HAM/TSP patients, the first HTLV-1 proviral load of SD-HTLV-1 individuals remains higher than no SD-HTLV-1 patients. There was a high prevalence of skin disorders (76%) among HTLV-1-infected individuals, regardless of clinical status, and 60% of these diseases are considered skin disease associated with HTLV-1 infection.