High HTLV-1 proviral load, a marker for HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis, is also detected in patients with infective dermatitis associated with HTLV-1

Salvador (BA, Brazil) is an endemic area for human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). The overall prevalence of HTLV-1 infection in the general population has been estimated to be 1.76%. HTLV-1 carriers may develop a variety of diseases such as adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and infective dermatitis associated with HTLV-1 (IDH). IDH is a chronic and severe form of childhood exudative and infective dermatitis involving mainly the scalp, neck and ears. It has recently been observed that 30% of patients with IDH develop juvenile HAM/TSP. The replication of HTLV-1 has been reported to be greater in adult HAM/TSP patients than in asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers. In the current study, the proviral load of 28 children and adolescents with IDH not associated with HAM/TSP was determined and the results were compared to those obtained in 28 HTLV-1 adult carriers and 28 adult patients with HAM/TSP. The proviral load in IDH patients was similar to that of patients with HAM/TSP and much higher than that found in HTLV-1 carriers. The high levels of proviral load in IDH patients were not associated with age, duration of illness, duration of breast-feeding, or activity status of the skin disease. Since proviral load is associated with neurological disability, these data support the view that IDH patients are at high risk of developing HAM/TSP.

Eritrodermia exfoliativa y dermatitis infecciosa en un lactante infectado por el virus linfotrópico humano-I (HTLV-I) / Exfoliative erythroderma and infective dermatitis in an infant infected with human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV I)

We report a HTLV-I positive infant, whose infection was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. The infant presented with an acute, severe, generalized eczema, exfoliation and severe erythroderma that yielded to an acute proteic malnutrition and frequent staphyloccocal infections, unresponsive to treatment, since the second month of life. Immunodeficiencies from other origin and other causes of erythroderma were ruled out. The histopathology studies and clinical course yielded to the diagnosis of infective dermatitis associated to HTLV-I. A review of the literature is performed.

Se presenta un niño infectado por virus HTLV-I por vía vertical, confirmado por reacción de polimerasa en cadena, quien, a partir del segundo mes de vida, presentó un cuadro de eccema agudo severo generalizado, que llegó a la eritrodermia y exfoliación masiva, provocando una desnutrición proteica aguda e infecciones repetidas por Staphylococcus aureus, de difícil manejo. Se descartaron inmunodeficiencias de otro origen, así como otras causas de eritrodermia. Posteriormente, de acuerdo con la evolución clínica y con las biopsias, se interpretó el cuadro como una dermatitis infecciosa asociada a HTLV-I. Se revisa la literatura en relación a la infección por HTLV-I.