CORRELATION BETWEEN HUMAN T CELL LEUKEMIA VIRUS TYPE 1 INFECTION AND HEPATITIS VIRUS INFECTION

CORRELATION BETWEEN HUMAN T CELL LEUKEMIA VIRUS TYPE 1 INFECTION AND HEPATITIS VIRUS INFECTION Shizuko Yakabi, Hiroki Zukeran, Yasuhiro Miyagi, Reiko Taira, Hiroshi Sakugawa and Keishun Koja Department of Blood Transfusion, Ryukyu University Hospital Kazuhiko Akamine, Tomio Uezu, Mono Kina and Keishou Ohmine Okinawa Red Cross Blood Center It is well known that human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection is contributed to deficient immunity. Some association between HTLV-1 infection and hepatitis virus infection were investigated, particularly the effect of HTLV-1 infection on the acquisition of hepatitis B and C virus carrier state, and on liver function in hepatitis virus carriers. The subjects consisted of 945 HTLV-1 positive donors aged 16-64 (mean+S. D.=37.4+11) and 2,000 negative controls aged 16-64 (mean+S. D.=30.4+10). The prevarence of hepatitis B surface antigen in HTLV-1 positive donors and negative controls were 1.9% and 1.6%, respectively. However, there was no statistically significant difference. On the other hand, the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus in HTLV-1 positive groups was 2.5% and significantly higher than in negative controls being 0.4%. Frequency of donors with high value of GPT was not different between HTLV-1 positive group and negative. In conclusion, HTLV-1 infection may not affect on the acquisition of HBV carrier state and liver function. However, an association between HTLV-1 and HCV infection was suggested.