Immunologic markers, uveitis, and keratoconjunctivitis sicca associated with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1.
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.
Pinheiro
Sônia Regina A A
SR
Hemominas Foundation, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. sonare.bh@terra.com.br
Martins-Filho
Olindo A
OA
Ribas
João Gabriel R
JG
Catalan-Soares
Bernadette C
BC
Proietti
Fernando A
FA
Namen-Lopes
Sueli
S
Brito-Melo
Gustavo E A
GE
Carneiro-Proietti
Anna Baŕbara F
AB
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
D015415:Biomarkers; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens