HTLV-I and HIV-1 infection in patients with lymphadenopathy syndrome detected during routine breast screening at a tumor prevention center.
Lymphadenopathy with no apparent cause had been reported in a group of women participating in a mammary tumor prevention program. A screening for retrovirus infection was organized to detect the virus as possible etiological agents. Data show a high percentage of positivity for HIV-1 among these lymphadenopathy patients, and surprisingly for HTLV-I, while no such positivity for either virus was found in matched controls or in patients where a different causal agent for lymphadenopathy was found. Of 26 seropositives, 23 deny any risk factor for HIV-1 and do not come from a HTLV-I known endemic area, but while it is impossible to exclude their knowledge of risk factors, it is worth noting that none of them presented a HTLV-I/HIV-1 double infection, which is very frequent in intravenous drug abusers, the major risk group in Italy. On the basis of these data spread of HTLV-I and HIV-1 appears to be more important in Italy than previously thought, and not confined to well-defined groups or, at least, among those who believe they do not belong to a risk group and therefore can represent a major vehicle for virus diffusion. Institution of screening for HTLV-I in blood donors should be taken immediately, and retrovirus infection risk criteria must be revised.
Manzari
V
V
Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Science, II University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
Modesti
M
M
De Marchis
L
L
Gradilone
A
A
Cifaldi
L
L
Marchei
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D051381:Rats; D012307:Risk Factors