[Dermatologic lesions in patients infected with the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)]

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2005 Jan-Feb;38(1):43-52. doi: 10.1590/s0037-86822005000100009. Epub 2005 Jan 18.
[Article in Portuguese]

Abstract

Human T-cell Lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1) was the first human retrovirus described. Some time after its discovery a group of diseases were related to this virus, such as, adult T-cell leukemia lymphoma (ATLL), HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and HTLV-1 associated uveitis (HAU). In the nineties, HTLV-1 was associated to a severe eczema of children, called infective dermatitis (ID). Since then, several other skin manifestations have been observed in HTLV-1-infected individuals, particularly in patients with ATLL or HAM/TSP. However, according to some reports, dermatologic lesions are also common in asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers. Besides ID, all other skin lesions reported are nonspecific. The aim of this review is to outline the dermatologic manifestations reported in HTLV-1 infected patients, emphasizing the clinical and epidemiological value of these findings.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Dermatitis / classification
  • Dermatitis / diagnosis
  • Dermatitis / virology*
  • HTLV-I Infections / complications*
  • Humans
  • Skin Diseases, Viral / classification
  • Skin Diseases, Viral / diagnosis
  • Skin Diseases, Viral / virology*