1. Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I infection in Barbados: results of a 20-year follow-up study.
- Author
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Rabkin CS, Corbin DO, Felton S, Barker H, Davison D, Dearden C, Blattner WA, and Evans AS
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Barbados epidemiology, Dermatitis complications, Female, Follow-Up Studies, HTLV-I Infections complications, HTLV-I Infections immunology, HTLV-I Infections physiopathology, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Risk Factors, HTLV-I Antibodies blood, HTLV-I Infections epidemiology
- Abstract
Forty-one human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1)-seropositive individuals were identified among 1,012 subjects with stored serum samples from a health and seroepidemiological survey conducted in Barbados in 1972. These 41 subjects plus 79 HTLV-1 seronegative household members were targeted in a follow-up study 20 years later. Sixteen seropositive subjects and 22 seronegative subjects were interviewed, examined, and phlebotomized. There were no changes in HTLV-1 serostatus between the 1972 and follow-up serum samples. Three (19%) of the seropositive subjects had HTLV-1-associated disorders: two with dermatitis and one with "smoldering" adult T-cell leukemia. Neurologic and immunologic function was similar in HTLV-1-seropositive and HTLV-1-seronegative subjects. HTLV-1 antibodies persist over many years, and the risk for seroconversion of household contacts is low.
- Published
- 1996
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