Natural History of Viral Markers in Children Infected with Human T Lymphotropic Virus Type I in Jamaica
1Viral Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, and 2Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurologic Diseases and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, and 3EMMES Corporation and 4Research Triangle Institute, Rockville, Maryland; 5Viral Exanthems and Herpesvirus Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, Georgia; 6Kagoshima City Hospital, Kagoshima, and 7Department of Clinical Research and Development, Clinical Research Center, Eisai, Tokyo, Japan; 8University of the West Indies, Mona Kingston, Jamaica
Purpose.
We conducted a longitudinal analysis of human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV‐I) viral markers in 28 Jamaican mothers and their children, who were monitored for a median of 6.2 years after the birth of the children.
Methods.The HTLV‐I provirus DNA load was measured using the Taqman system (PE Applied Biosystems). The HTLV‐I antibody titer was determined using the Vironstika HTLV‐I/II Microelisa System (Organon Teknika). The HTLV‐I Tax‐specific antibody titers were measured using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Generalized estimating equations were used to describe the associations of exposure variables with sequentially measured levels of HTLV‐I viral markers in children.
Results.The HTLV‐I antibody titer increased significantly up to 1 year after infection, reaching equilibrium at a median titer of 1:7786. The prevalence of Tax‐specific antibody reached 80% at 2 years after infection. The provirus load increased up to 2 years after infection, reaching equilibrium at a median of 6695 copies/100,000 peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The increase in the provirus load was significant only among children with eczema, but not among children without eczema.
Conclusions.The provirus loads in children increased for an additional year after their antibody titers had stabilized, possibly as a result of the expansion of HTLV‐I–infected clones. This effect was significant only for children with eczema. Among HTLV‐I–infected children, eczema may be a cutaneous marker of the risk of HTLV‐I–associated diseases developing in adulthood.
Received 10 January 2006; accepted 20 April 2006; electronically published 28 July 2006.
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Online publication date: 15-Oct-2007.
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Financial support: Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, and National Cancer Institute (research contracts N01‐CP31006, N01‐CP33043‐21, N01‐CP‐40548, and N01‐CP‐21121).
Potential conflicts of interest: none reported.