Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Annals of Medical Sciences, cilt.7, sa.2, ss.107-110, 1998 (Scopus)
Purpose: Human T-lymphotrophic virus type-I is a human retrovirus, that has been reported all around the world in recent years. It has been shown to be associated with different disease entities, such as adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, spastic paraparesis and uveitis. Until now, HTLV-I seropositivity has not been shown in the Turkish population. Methods: In the present study, HTLV-I antibodies were explored in the sera of 41 patients with idiopathic uveitis, 10 with Behcet's disease and 38 with leukemia, and in 96 controls, in order to evaluate the seropositivity of the virus in southern Turkey, and to estimate its role in uveitis and leukemia. Results: Although no HTLV-I antibodies were detected in our controls, the global, occurrence of HTLV-I seropositivity states the importance of screening in blood donors. None of the patients with uveitis were found to have HTLV-I antibodies, however we believe in that HTLV-I should be taken into consideration in evaluating the aetiopatogenesis of uveitis in our region, as large series of HTLV-I uveitis were reported from different regions of the world. The positivity of HTLV-I antibodies in 12 leukemia patients in our series needs further investigation. Conclusion: conclusion, studies performed on larger series are needed in order to evaluate the seropositivity of HTLV-I in Turkey, and its role in the occurrence of ueitis.