       Document 0348
 DOCN  M9620348
 TI    [HTLV-I infection in Spain. Analysis of 24 cases identified until
       November, 1994. Spanish Group for the Study of HTLV-I/II)]
 DT    9602
 AU    Soriano V; Gutierrez M; Vallejo A; Aguilera A; Calderon E; Franco E;
       Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid.
 SO    Med Clin (Barc). 1995 Sep 9;105(7):246-50. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96059192
 AB    BACKGROUND: HTLV-I is a human retrovirus which has been implicated in
       the genesis of tropical spastic paraparesia (TSP), adult T-cell leukemia
       (ATL) and some patients with uveitis, subacute arthropathies and
       lymphocytary alveolitis. The virus is endemic in some zones of the
       Caribbean countries, Japan, subsaharian Africa, Middle East and
       Melanesia. Given that HTLV-I is transmitted by similar routes as HIV,
       anti-HTLV-I antibody screening is carried out in blood donors in some
       countries. METHODS: The clinical, epidemiologic and virologic
       characteristics of the patients with HTLV-I infection identified in
       Spain up to November 1994 are described. RESULTS: Twenty-four Spanish
       residents have been identified with HTLV-I infection including 16
       Spaniards and 8 immigrants from endemic areas. Thirteen (53%) are males
       and 11 (47%) females. Most of the persons born in Spain (12/16; 75%)
       have lived in endemic areas or have maintained sexual relations with
       natives of them. Four patients were diagnosed with TSP, three with ATL
       and another with lymphomatoid granulomatosis and angiocentric T-cell
       lymphoma. The remaining patients were asymptomatic at the time of
       diagnosis. Two HTLV-I carriers were identified on blood donation.
       CONCLUSIONS: HTLV-I infection is present in Spain being found in Spanish
       natives and, to a lesser degree, in immigrants from endemic areas. It is
       therefore recommendable to analyze the cost-benefit of anti-HTLV-I
       screening in blood donors.
 DE    Adult  Aged  English Abstract  Female  Human  HTLV-I
       Infections/COMPLICATIONS/*EPIDEMIOLOGY  Leukemia,
       T-Cell/COMPLICATIONS/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Male  Middle Age  Paraparesis,
       Tropical Spastic/COMPLICATIONS/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Spain/EPIDEMIOLOGY  JOURNAL
       ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

