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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Late presentation of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 infection in Spain reflects suboptimal testing strategies: on behalf of the Human T-lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) Spanish Network
International Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 122, Year 2022
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Description
Objectives: Although only 10% of persons infected with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) may develop virus-associated illnesses over their lifetime, missing the earlier diagnosis of asymptomatic carriers frequently leads to late presentation. Methods: A nationwide HTLV-1 register was created in Spain in 1989. We examined the main demographics and clinical features at the time of the first diagnosis for more than three decades. Results: A total of 428 individuals infected with HTLV-1 had been reported in Spain until the end of 2021. Up to 96 (22%) individuals presented clinically with HTLV-1-associated conditions, including subacute myelopathy (57%), T-cell lymphoma (34%), or Strongyloides stercoralis infestation (8%). Since 2008, HTLV-1 diagnosis has been made at blood banks (44%) or clinics (56%). Native Spaniards and Sub-Saharan Africans are overrepresented among patients presenting with HTLV-1-associated illnesses suggesting that poor epidemiological and/or clinical suspicion, which led to the late presentation are more frequent in them than carriers from Latin America (LATAM) (31.7% vs 20.4%, respectively; P = 0.015). Conclusion: HTLV-1 infection in Spain is frequently diagnosed in patients presenting with characteristic illnesses. Although screening in blood banks mostly identifies asymptomatic carriers from LATAM, a disproportionately high number of Spaniards and Africans are diagnosed too late at the time of clinical manifestations. Expanding testing to all pregnant women and clinics for sexually transmitted infections could help to unveil HTLV-1 asymptomatic carriers. © 2022 The Author(s)
Authors & Co-Authors
de-Mendoza, Carmen
Spain, Majadahonda
Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda
Fernández-Ruiz, Mario
Spain, Madrid
Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre
Mellado-Peña, María José
Spain, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Hospital de Gran Canaria Dr. Negrin
Ramos-Rincón, José Manuel
Spain, Alicante
Hospital General Universitario de Alicante
Pirón, María
Unknown Affiliation
Miró, Elisenda
Spain, Barcelona
Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau
Reina, G.
Spain, Pamplona
Universidad de Navarra
Aguilera, Antonio
Spain, Santiago de Compostela
Universidad de Santiago de Compostela
Corral-Pazos de Provens, Octavio Jorge
Spain, Logrono
International University of la Rioja
Soriano, Vicente Vicente
Spain, Logrono
International University of la Rioja
Statistics
Citations: 3
Authors: 10
Affiliations: 13
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.ijid.2022.07.043
ISSN:
12019712
Research Areas
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Participants Gender
Female