A Th2-Type Response Is Associated With Exuberant Lesions in Pregnant Women Infected With Leishmania braziliensis.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is characterized by an exaggerated inflammatory response. During pregnancy there is a decreased inflammatory response, and we have shown that pregnant women with CL develop exuberant lesions.

Methods: Cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the frequency of cells expressing cytokines in lesions from pregnant and nonpregnant women with CL were evaluated.

Clinical manifestations in individuals with recent diagnosis of HTLV type I infection.

Background: Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is known to cause HTLV-associated myelopathy (HAM)/tropical spastic paraparesis and adult T cell leukemia. A growing body of evidence links HTLV-1 infection with an increasing spectrum of disease, including uveitis, periodontal disease, arthropathy, sicca syndrome, and neurologic deficits.

Objectives: Despite recent findings, the natural history of HTLV-1 infection remains poorly defined.