RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Clinical presentation of individuals with human T-Cell leukemia virus type-1 infection in spain
A1 Mendoza, Carmen de
A1 Eiros Bouza, José María
K1 Leucemia de células T adultas
K1 HTLV-1
K1 Epidemiología
K1 32 Ciencias Médicas
AB Although only 8%–10% of persons infected with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) may develop virus-associated diseases lifelong, misdiagnosis of asymptomatic infected carriers frequently leads to late diagnoses.Methods: A nationwide HTLV-1 register was created in Spain in 1989. A total of 351 infected persons had been reported by the end of 2017. We examined all new HTLV-1 diagnoses during the last decade and compared their clinical presentation.Results: A total of 247 individuals with HTLV-1 infection had been reported in Spain since year 2008. The incidence has remained stable with 20–25 new diagnoses yearly. Women represented 62%. Only 12% were native Spaniards, most of whom were foreigners from Latin America (72.5%). Up to 57 (23%) individuals presented clinically with HTLV-1-associated conditions, including subacute myelopathy (n = 24; 42.1%), T-cell lymphoma (n = 19; 33.3%), or Strongyloides stercoralis infestation (n = 8; 14%). Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 diagnosis had been made either at blood banks (n = 109; 44%) or at clinics (n = 138; 56%). It is interesting to note that Spaniards and especially Africans were overrepresented among patients presenting with HTLV-1-associated illnesses, suggesting that misdiagnosis and late presentation are more frequent in these populations compared to Latin Americans.Conclusions: Given that 23% of new HTLV-1 diagnoses in Spain are symptomatic, underdiagnosis must be common. Although screening in blood banks mostly identifies asymptomatic Latin American carriers, a disproportionately high number of Spaniards and Africans are unveiled too late, that is, they already suffer from classic HTLV-1 illnesses.
PB Oxford University Press
SN 2328-8957
YR 2019
FD 2019
LK http://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/45358
UL http://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/45358
LA eng
NO De Mendoza, Carmen, [et al.].Clinical presentation of individuals with human T-Cell leukemia virus type-1 infection in spain, Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 2019, vol. 6, n.2
NO Producción Científica
DS UVaDOC
RD 12-sep-2024