title: Is HTLV-1 status another antenatal screening test that we need?
abstract: Human T-lymphocytic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) carriage is associated with a 2% to 5% lifetime risk of developing a severe, if not fatal, disease. In our Inner London antenatal population, we found that the carrier rate was 0.3%. The antenatal transmission rate is known to be very low, but if the infant is breastfed the transmission rate is up to 25%. It is therefore possible to interrupt the transmission cycle by advising against breastfeeding. The ethical and fiscal issues surrounding antenatal testing are addressed.
authors.affiliation: Homerton Hospital, London.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Otigbah
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aitken
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jeffries
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Erskine
mesh_terms: D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D015995:Prevalence