title: [HTLV-I infection in a high-risk group].
abstract: The aim of this study is to detect the presence of HTLV-1 in a high-risk population in west Andalusia. We studied 267 samples of serum from 255 patients: 179 of these patients being intravenous drug-users, 14 had ADVP sexual partners, 16 were inhalation drug-users, 4 were hemophiliacs, 9 had other high-risk habits and 25 hematological patients afflicted with leukemia or lymphoma. All of them were tested for antibodies against HTLV-1 by means of an in vitro qualitative ELISA technique (ELISA Du Pont HTLV-1). The positive results were confirmed by the Western blot technique. Additionally, the p24 antigen and the antibodies against VIH-1 and VIH-2 (ENV/CORE) were analysed, except in the 25 hematological patients. We found 20 serum samples positive to HTLV-1 by ELISA (7.4%), but only 1 (0.3%) was confirmed by the Western blot technique. The prevalence of VIH-1 was 46%; 9% had p24 VIH antigen and 26% had false positive ELISA to VIH-2. We found a statistically significant relationship (p = 0.0005) between positive ELISA to HTLV-1 and antibodies against VIH. We conclude that HTLV-1 has penetrated into the high-risk population of west Andalusia , although not yet to a great degree, and point out the need for seric epidemiological surveillance to prevent the spread of the retrovirus in these groups.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna y Análisis Clinico, Hospital General de Huelva.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pujol
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ollero
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gimeno
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Colchero
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alcoucer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Márquez
mesh_terms: D005189:False Positive Reactions; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000276:immunology; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000276:immunology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies
vernacular_title: Infección por HTLV-1 en un colectivo con prácticas de riesgo.