Detection of human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type I in a transfusion recipient with chronic myelopathy.
A white man with a progressive spastic paraparesis that began 15 months after sustaining severe trauma in a motor vehicle accident was positive for antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum antibody to HTLV-I was confirmed by Western blot and radioimmunoprecipitation assay. We detected specific proviral DNA in peripheral blood lymphocytes by the polymerase chain reaction. Because the incidence of HTLV-I is generally restricted to Southern Japan and Caribbean black populations, the most likely source of HTLV-I infection in this patient was multiple intraoperative blood transfusions. The relatively short interval between transfusion and development of HTLV-I-associated myelopathy is consistent with the more rapid evolution of this clinical syndrome compared with adult T-cell leukemia.
Saxton
E H
EH
Department of Neurology, Reed Neurological Research Center, Los Angeles, CA 90024.
Lee
H
H
Swanson
P
P
Chen
I S
IS
Ruland
C
C
Chin
E
E
Aboulafia
D
D
Delamarter
R
R
Rosenblatt
J D
JD
D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005784:Gene Amplification; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D015459:Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012698:Serologic Tests; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D004279:DNA, Viral