HTLV-1 infection is associated with a history of active tuberculosis among family members of HTLV-1-infected patients in Peru.
The purpose of this study was to assess the association between human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) and a lifetime history of active tuberculosis (TB) among relatives of HTLV-1-infected patients. We reviewed clinical charts of all relatives of HTLV-1-infected index cases who attended our institute in Lima from 1990-2004. The data of 1233 relatives was analysed; 394 (32.0%) were HTLV-1 positive. Eighty-one subjects (6.6%) had a history of active TB, including 45/394 (11.4%) HTLV-1-positive and 36/839 (4.3%) HTLV-1-negative relatives (P<0.001). On multivariate analysis, three factors were associated with TB history: HTLV-1 infection (adjusted OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.6-3.9), age (adjusted OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.5 per 10-year age increase) and relation to the index case (adjusted OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.3-5.1, for siblings vs. spouses of index cases). In conclusion, HTLV-1 infection may increase the susceptibility to active TB. In populations where both infections are frequent, such an association could affect the dynamics of TB.
Verdonck
K
K
Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru. tverdonck@itg.be
González
E
E
Schrooten
W
W
Vanham
G
G
Gotuzzo
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*