Haematologica, Vol 90, Issue 3, ECR13-ECR13
Copyright © 2005 by Ferrata Storti Foundation
HTLV-1 associated adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma in Israel: report of two patients of Romanian origin
M Shtalrid,
L Shvidel,
R Korenfeld,
A Duek,
Z Landau,
and
A Berrebi
Department of Hematology, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, 76100, Israel.
Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) was the first human oncovirus isolated by Gallo et al. in 1980 and established as an etiological agent for adult T-cell leukemia/ lymphoma (ATL). Although more than 15 million individuals are infected by HTLV-1 through the world, the spread of the virus is highly endemic. The HTLV-1 infection is prevailing in southwestern Japan, inter-tropical Africa, Central and South America. In Kyushu district, Japan, the seroprevalence reaches >30% in the adult population. In the US, Europe and the Middle East the HTLV-1 infection is very rare, and cases of ATL have been reported sporadically. We describe here acute ATL in two patients of Jewish- Romanian origin. The epidemiological anamnesis and screening indicate that both patients acquired the HTLV-1 from their mothers leaving in Romania.
