title: Predictors of level of circulating abnormal lymphocytes among human T-lymphotropic virus type I carriers in Japan.
abstract: Human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) carriers often have abnormal lymphocytes (Ably) that resemble malignant cells of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). To identify predictors of the level of Ably in a longitudinal study of asymptomatic HTLV-I carriers, we analyzed data from 215 subjects (67 men and 148 women) with multiple Ably measurements on blood smears. Ably+ (those having Ably > 0.6% of leukocytes counted on a blood smear at least once) was strongly associated with a high proviral load (OR 8.9; 95% CI 4.1, 19.5). The association among those defined as Ably++ (Ably > 0.6% at all screens or Ably > 1.6% at least once) was higher (19.7; 6.9, 56.1). Ably++ was also significantly associated with male gender (2.8; 1.0, 7.8). Multivariate analysis of Ably level indicates that men with a high proviral load, high anti-HTLV-I titer and low anti-Tax reactivity have the highest Ably level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA. michie@hsph.harvard.edu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hisada
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okayama
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tachibana
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Stuver
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Spiegelman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsubouchi
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Mueller
mesh_terms: D002353:Carrier State; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies