HIV/HTLV co-infection: frequency and epidemiological characteristics among patients admitted to an Italian hospital

Infection. 2003 Jun;31(3):172-3. doi: 10.1007/s15010-003-3122-5.

Abstract

Background: Human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma viruses (HTLV) and HIV share identical modes of transmission and co-infections may be detected in populations that are highly exposed to common risk factors.

Materials and methods: A total of 599 serum samples from HIV-positive patients attending our outpatient clinic during the last semester of 2000 were tested to assess the prevalence of HTLV co-infection in both Italian (n = 472) and non-European HIV-infected patients (n = 127).

Results: 72 samples were positive for HTLV-II. Most of the HTLV-II-positive patients were Italian (71/72, 98.6%) and 98.5% of them had acquired the HIV infection through use of intravenous recreational drugs.

Conclusion: These data demonstrate a high HTLV-II exposure among HIV-positive intravenous drug users in our area which was not previously considered to be an area of endemicity for HTLV-II.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HTLV-I Infections / diagnosis
  • HTLV-I Infections / epidemiology*
  • HTLV-II Infections / diagnosis
  • HTLV-II Infections / epidemiology*
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Factors
  • Serologic Tests
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sex Distribution
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous