title: [Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I infection in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders at two sentinel sites in Cuba].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infection among patients with lymphoproliferative disorders, as well as among their family members and sexual contacts, at two sentinel sites in Cuba.
  
  
  METHODS
  An analysis was conducted of all the patients with a presumptive diagnosis of hematological malignancies seen by the hematology departments of the Hospital Hermanos Ameijeiras (HHA), City of Havana, and the Hospital Provincial Comandante Faustino Pérez (HPCFP), Matanza, Cuba, in January 1996-January 1997. HTLV-I seropositivity was determined by ELISA and Western Blot, and infection was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. The positive patients' family members and sexual contacts were also assessed. The Z-test was used to compare proportions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seroprevalence of HTLV-I infection in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders was 0.4% higher at the HPCFP than at the HHA (6.1% versus 0.2%, P<0.001). There were no significant differences in prevalence by age, sex, or skin color. Of the 53 family members and sexual contacts studied, 8 (15.1%) were positive for HTLV-I infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of HTLV-I in the study group was higher than previously found in Cuba. The value of seroepidemiological surveillance through sentinel sites was confirmed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Investigaciones del Sida, San José de las Lajas, La Habana, Cuba. cicdc@infomed.sld.cu
authors.forename: Héctor M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Díaz Torres
authors.forename: Nereyda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alvarez Vega
authors.forename: Jorge E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Muñío Perurena
authors.forename: Ana Luisa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lubián Caballero
authors.forename: Dayamí
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martín Alfonso
authors.forename: Dervel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Díaz Herrera
authors.forename: Madelín
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blanco de Armas
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D016358:Contact Tracing; D003462:Cuba / Q000453:epidemiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005192:Family Health; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011159:Population Surveillance; D054218:Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012747:Sexual Partners
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D015481:HTLV-I Antibodies