Epidemiology of HTLV-I infection in Spain. HTLV Spanish Study Group.

Background: The human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) has been implicated in the genesis of tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP), adult T-cell lymphoma (ATL), and some cases of uveitis, subacute arthropathies, chronic dermatitis and lymphocytic alveolitis. The virus is endemic in some areas of the Caribbean basin, Japan, subSaharan Africa, Central and South America, Middle East and Melanesia. Given that HTLV-I is transmitted through similar ways to HIV, screening in blood donors is recommended in some countries.

Materials And Methods: The clinical, epidemiological and virological characteristics of 27 patients with HTLV-I infection were identified in Spain up to September 1995.

Results: Eighteen cases were Spanish natives and 9 were immigrants from endemic areas. Fifteen were male and 12 were female. The majority (12/18; 66.7 percent) of subjects born in Spain had resided in endemic areas or had had sexual partners from these regions. Four patients had TSP, three had ATL and one developed lymphomatous granulomatosis and T-cell lymphoma. The remaining HTLV-I subjects were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. Four cases were identified from screening of blood donors.

Conclusion: HTLV-I is present in Spain, affecting natives and, less frequently, immigrants from endemic areas. Both neurological and lymphoproliferative diseases have been recognized in a quarter of patients.