title: Quantitative proviral DNA and antibody levels in the natural history of HTLV-I infection.
abstract: The pathogenesis of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) in adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and HTLV-I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is poorly understood. We prospectively followed up and evaluated the virologic correlates of infection in transfusion recipients after seroconversion, in asymptomatic carriers, and in ATL and HAM/TSP patients. Proviral DNA levels (copies/105 lymphocytes) were determined by real-time automated polymerase chain reaction and antibody titers by end-point dilution by use of an HTLV-I enzyme-linked immunoassay. In early infection, proviral load was initially elevated (median, 212 copies/105 lymphocytes at time 1) and later decreased (median, 99 copies at time 2, and 27 copies at time 3). Corresponding antibody titers were low at time 1 (1:2154), had significantly increased by time 2 (1:12312), and were stable by time 3 (1:4694). These viral markers were significantly lower in asymptomatic carriers than in HAM/TSP or ATL patients. Therefore, proviral load and antibody titers may be useful as predictive markers of disease among carriers.
authors.affiliation: Viral Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20852, USA. mannsa@epndce.nci.nih.gov
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manns
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Miley
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wilks
authors.forename: O S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hanchard
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wharfe
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cranston
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maloney
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Welles
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Blattner
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Waters
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015459:Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000821:virology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000821:virology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011533:Proviruses; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies