Hypergammaglobulinemia and corneal opacities in patients with human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type-1.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between serum immunoglobulin levels and corneal opacities in a cohort of patients with human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type-1 (HTLV-1).


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
Complete ophthalmologic examination was performed on 44 patients with HTLV-1 infection (25 patients with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma [ATL], 18 patients with HTLV-1 that was associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis [HAM/TSP], and one patient who was asymptomatic). Corneal opacities were described by shape, size, color, and location. Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels (IgG, IgM, and IgA) were measured by nephelometry.


RESULTS
Corneal opacities were identified in 15 of 25 patients (60%) with ATL and five of 18 patients (28%) with HAM/TSP. The prevalence of corneal opacities was associated statistically with elevated IgG level (P = .023) in patients with ATL, but not in patients with HAM/TSP (P > .99).


CONCLUSIONS
Although the mechanism remains unclear, hypergammaglobulinemia is associated with the development of the corneal opacities in patients of African descent with ATL.
Patronas
Marena
M
Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Smith
Janine A
JA
Levy-Clarke
Grace A
GA
Reed
George F
GF
Buggage
Ronald R
RR
D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M