Abstract |
Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) was first reported in Japan, where it has a high incidence in the southwestern region. The retrovirus, human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I), is the causative agent of ATL. In ATL-endemic areas, the rate of HTLV-I carriers is high. A definite diagnosis of ATL is based on the presence of HTLV-I proviral DNA in the tumor cell DNA. ATL cells originate from the CD4 subset of peripheral T cells. ATL shows diverse clinical features but can be divided into four subtypes: acute, chronic, smoldering, and lymphoma type. Chemotherapy is not effective; the acute and lymphoma types have a poor prognosis. Familial occurrence of ATL is common. HTLV-I infection is caused by transmission of live infected lymphocytes from mother to child, from man to female, or by blood transfusion. Infection with HTLV-I can lead to other diseases, including HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis and HTLV-I uveitis.
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Authors | K Takatsuki |
Journal | Leukemia
(Leukemia)
Vol. 11 Suppl 3
Pg. 54-6
(Apr 1997)
ISSN: 0887-6924 [Print] England |
PMID | 9209296
(Publication Type: Lecture)
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Chemical References |
- DNA, Viral
- HTLV-I Antibodies
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Topics |
- Adult
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
(therapeutic use)
- DNA, Viral
(analysis)
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Female
- HTLV-I Antibodies
(blood)
- Human T-lymphotropic virus 1
(isolation & purification)
- Humans
- Incidence
- Japan
(epidemiology)
- Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell
(diagnosis, drug therapy, epidemiology, prevention & control)
- Male
- Proviruses
(isolation & purification)
- Survival Rate
- T-Lymphocytes
(pathology)
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