Comparison of the frequency of anti Human T Lymphotropic Virus 1 antibodies in patients with mycosis fungoides and normal controls

ABSTRACT

Studies concerning the relation between mycosis fungoides [MF] and its leukemic form Sezary syndrome [SS] and infection with human T lymphotropic virus 1 [HTLV 1] have yielded different findings. The objective of this study is to determine the frequency of HTLV 1 infection in MF patients. In a case-control study, 150 clinically and histopathologically confirmed MF patients and 150 normal individuals were evaluated and compared for the HTLV 1 infection. Sera of the participants were taken and evaluated by ELISA method. Positive results were confirmed by Western blot. HTLV 1 infection was detected in 3 of 150 MF patients and 2 of normal participants. This study shows no association between HTLV 1 infection and MF in Iranian patients