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Postgrad Med J 2003;79:341-344 doi:10.1136/pmj.79.932.341
  • Original article

Hospital admissions for human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) associated diseases in Dominica

  1. O Adedayo1,
  2. G Grell1,
  3. P Bellot2
  1. 1Department of Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital and Ross University School of Medicine, Dominica
  2. 2Department of Pathology
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr Olayinka Adedayo, Department of Internal Medicine, Bronx Lebanon Hospital, 1650 Selwyn Avenue Apt 15A, Bronx, NY 10457, USA; 
 oadedayo{at}hotmail.com
  • Received 24 January 2002
  • Accepted 17 December 2002

Abstract

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus that is endemic in certain regions of the world, and may account for significant morbidity and mortality among hospitalised patients.

Sixty six HTLV-1 seropositive patients admitted to hospital with HTLV-1 associated diseases from 1995–99 were studied. HTLV-1 screening was done with ELISA and confirmed on western blot testing. There were 32 females (48.5%) and 34 males (51.5%). The mean age was 56 years and the age range was 9–89 years.

The main associated diseases were tropical spastic paraparesis or HTLV-1 associated myelopathy in 18.2% of cases, acute form of adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma 7.6%, lymphomas 15.2%, and ectoparasites/endoparasites in 40.9%. HTLV-1 is associated with diseases in Dominica and association with severe forms of strongyloidiasis and scabies is particularly noted.

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