Evaluation of morbidity among human T lymphotropic virus type 1 carriers in Miyazaki, Japan

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 173; no. 3; p. 584
• Main Authors: Stuver, S O, Tachibana, N, Okayama, A, Mueller, N E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.1996
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anemia - complications; Asthma - complications; Carrier State - epidemiology; Carrier State - immunology; Cohort Studies; Deltaretrovirus Infections - complications; Deltaretrovirus Infections - epidemiology; Deltaretrovirus Infections - immunology; Diabetes Complications; Female; Heart Diseases - complications; HTLV-I Antibodies - blood; Humans; Japan - epidemiology; Kidney Diseases - complications; Male; Middle Aged; Morbidity; Risk Factors; Ulcer - complications; Japan
• ISSN: 0022-1899
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/173.3.584

Morbidity associated with human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infection was investigated in a Japanese population within an area in which HTLV-I infection is endemic. Of 1824 subjects enrolled in the Miyazaki Cohort Study between November 1984 and May 1991, 500 (27.4%) were seropositive for HTLV-I antibodies. As expected from previous studies, HTLV-I positively appeared to be associated with baseline history of anemia (adjusted odds ratio [OR]= 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]= 0.99-1.7) and kidney disease (OR=1.6; 95% CI= 0.91-2.9); a positive association also was noted for asthma in men (OR=3.4; 95% CI=1.2-9.8). Unanticipated findings included a relationship between HTLV-I infection and cardiac disease history (OR=1.4; 95% CI=0.94-2.2; HTLV-I carriers also were more likely to have an abnormal electrocardiogram at baseline (OR=1.5; 95% CI=1.2-1.9). Furthermore, an apparent protective effect for ulcers (OR=0.62; 95% CI=0.40-0.95) and diabetes (OR=0.49;95% CI=0.22-1.1) was observed. HTLV-I infection may modify the risk of specific disease outcomes by altering host immune function.