Screening transplant donors for HTLV-1 and -2
File(s)
Author(s)
Gallo, Robert C
Willems, Luc
Hasegawa, Hideki
Global Virus Network’s Task Force on HTLV-1
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Human T-cell leukemia virus-1 (HTLV-1) is the first pathogenic human retrovirus discovered in 1980.1 HTLV-1 causes 2 devastating diseases: adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and a neurological disorder, HTLV-1–associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP or, more briefly, HAM). ATL becomes apparent in 2% to 5% of those infected with HTLV-1; another 1% to 2% will develop HAM.2 There are usually 2 to 3 decades of latency after the infection before the onset of symptoms. A second HTLV (HTLV-2) isolated in 1982 has been causally linked to HAM, but not ATL.3
In other cases, HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 infection may remain asymptomatic for years while being transmitted from person-to-person through host cells in body fluids and breast milk, blood cell transfusions, and solid organ transplantation. There are no licensed vaccines to prevent HTLV-1 or HTLV-2 infections.
In other cases, HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 infection may remain asymptomatic for years while being transmitted from person-to-person through host cells in body fluids and breast milk, blood cell transfusions, and solid organ transplantation. There are no licensed vaccines to prevent HTLV-1 or HTLV-2 infections.
Date Issued
2016-12-29
Date Acceptance
2016-11-04
Citation
Blood, 2016, 128 (26), pp.3029-3031
ISSN
1528-0020
Publisher
American Society of Hematology
Start Page
3029
End Page
3031
Journal / Book Title
Blood
Volume
128
Issue
26
Copyright Statement
© 2016 by The American Society of Hematology
Sponsor
Wellcome Trust
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28034870
PII: blood-2016-09-739433
Grant Number
100291/Z/12/Z
Subjects
Donor Selection
Female
HTLV-II Infections
Human T-lymphotropic virus 1
Human T-lymphotropic virus 2
Humans
Male
Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Date Publish Online
2016-12-29