title: Immunologic markers, uveitis, and keratoconjunctivitis sicca associated with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To verify the occurrence of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) and human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) associated uveitis (HAU) and to evaluate the immunologic status related to HTLV-1.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ophthalmic examination (both eyes) and immunophenotyping of peripheral blood lymphocytes were performed in 207 infected asymptomatic blood donors (AS), 55 controls (NI), and 55 patients with HTLV-1 associated myelopathy (HAM/TSP). Examiner was masked to patient's serologic status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  KCS was more frequent in HAM/TSP (30/55, 54.5%) than in NI and AS (07/55, 12.7% and 42/207, 20.3%, respectively). Presence of lacrimal hyposecretion in KCS individuals was higher in the HAM/TSP group (P < .001) as compared with NI and AS. HAU was found in 1/55 (1.82%) of HAM/TSP patients and 4/207 (1.93%) of HTLV-1 seropositive donors. Higher levels of activated CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were observed in HAM/TSP. Patients with HAU displayed higher percentage of both CD4(+) HLA-DR(+) and CD8(+)HLA-DR(+) when compared with NI and AS without HAU.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with HAM/TSP manifested more ophthalmologic symptoms than asymptomatic HTLV-1-infected individuals, with significantly higher KCS and immunologic alterations. Levels of activated CD8+ T cells could be used as a prognosis marker of inflammatory disease manifestation to follow-up AS individuals.
authors.affiliation: Hemominas Foundation, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. sonare.bh@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Sônia Regina A A
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: Olindo A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Martins-Filho
authors.forename: João Gabriel R
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ribas
authors.forename: Bernadette C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Catalan-Soares
authors.forename: Fernando A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Proietti
authors.forename: Sueli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Namen-Lopes
authors.forename: Gustavo E A
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Brito-Melo
authors.forename: Anna Baŕbara F
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Carneiro-Proietti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007638:Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D014605:Uveitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens