Immunologic Markers, Uveitis, and Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca Associated with Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1

• Published in: American journal of ophthalmology 2006-11, Vol.142 (5), p.811-815.e1
• Main Authors: Pinheiro, Sônia Regina A.A., Martins-Filho, Olindo A., Ribas, JoÃo Gabriel R., Catalan-Soares, Bernadette C., Proietti, Fernando A., Namen-Lopes, Sueli, Brito-Melo, Gustavo E.A., Carneiro-Proietti, Anna Baŕbara F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; CD4-CD8 Ratio; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Cloning; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease; Diseases of cornea, anterior segment and sclera; Federal regulation; Female; HLA-DR Antigens - immunology; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 - physiology; Humans; Immunophenotyping; Infections; Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca - etiology; Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca - immunology; Leukemia; Lymphocytes; Lymphoma; Male; Males; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Ophthalmology; Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic - complications; Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic - immunology; Studies; Uvea diseases; Uveitis - etiology; Uveitis - immunology
• ISSN: 0002-9394; 1879-1891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2006.06.013

To verify the occurrence of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) and human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) associated uveitis (HAU) and to evaluate the immunologic status related to HTLV-1. Cross-sectional study. Ophthalmic examination (both eyes) and immunophenotyping of peripheral blood lymphocytes were performed in 207 infected asymptomatic blood donors (AS), 55 controls (NI), and 55 patients with HTLV-1 associated myelopathy (HAM/TSP). Examiner was masked to patient’s serologic status. KCS was more frequent in HAM/TSP (30/55, 54.5%) than in NI and AS (07/55, 12.7% and 42/207, 20.3%, respectively). Presence of lacrimal hyposecretion in KCS individuals was higher in the HAM/TSP group ( P < .001) as compared with NI and AS. HAU was found in 1/55 (1.82%) of HAM/TSP patients and 4/207 (1.93%) of HTLV-1 seropositive donors. Higher levels of activated CD4 + and CD8 + T cells were observed in HAM/TSP. Patients with HAU displayed higher percentage of both CD4 + HLA-DR + and CD8 +HLA-DR + when compared with NI and AS without HAU. Patients with HAM/TSP manifested more ophthalmologic symptoms than asymptomatic HTLV-1–infected individuals, with significantly higher KCS and immunologic alterations. Levels of activated CD8+ T cells could be used as a prognosis marker of inflammatory disease manifestation to follow-up AS individuals.