HIV/HTLV co-infection: frequency and epidemiological characteristics among patients admitted to an Italian hospital.
BACKGROUND
Human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma viruses (HTLV) and HIV share identical modes of transmission and co-infections may be detected in populations that are highly exposed to common risk factors.


METHODS
A total of 599 serum samples from HIV-positive patients attending our outpatient clinic during the last semester of 2000 were tested to assess the prevalence of HTLV co-infection in both Italian (n = 472) and non-European HIV-infected patients (n = 127).


RESULTS
72 samples were positive for HTLV-II. Most of the HTLV-II-positive patients were Italian (71/72, 98.6%) and 98.5% of them had acquired the HIV infection through use of intravenous recreational drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
These data demonstrate a high HTLV-II exposure among HIV-positive intravenous drug users in our area which was not previously considered to be an area of endemicity for HTLV-II.
Quiros-Roldan
E
E
Institute of Infectious Diseases, Ospedale Civili, Pzle Spedali Civili no.1, I-25125 Brescia, Italy. kaeniaquiros@hotmail.com
Moretti
F
F
Torti
C
C
Casari
S
S
Castelli
F
F
Beltrame
A
A
Carosi
G
G
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015491:HTLV-II Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012698:Serologic Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous