# name
HTLV-1 proviral load in infective dermatitis associated with HTLV-1 does not increase after the development of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis and does not decrease after IDH remission

# metadata.dc.description.abstract[].value
Introduction
Infective dermatitis associated with HTLV-1 (IDH) is a recurrent eczema which affects children vertically infected with HTLV-1. In Bahia, Brazil, we recently reported that 47% of IDH patients also develop juvenile HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), a progressive disabling disorder which is typically reported in adult HTLV-1 carriers. IDH may also predispose to adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, a neoplasm associated with HTLV-1. The factors relating to the development of HTLV-1-associated juvenile diseases have not yet been defined. HTLV-1 proviral load (PVL) is one of the main parameters related to the development of HTLV-1 associated diseases in adults. In the current study, we investigated the role of PVL in IDH and juvenile HAM/TSP.
Methodology/Principal findings
This is a cohort study that included fifty-nine HTLV-1 infected children and adolescents, comprising 16 asymptomatic carriers, 18 IDH patients, 20 patients with IDH and HAM/TSP (IDH/HAM/TSP) and five with HAM/TSP. These patients were followed-up for up to 14 years (median of 8 years). We found that PVL in IDH and IDH/HAM/TSP patients were similarly higher than PVL in juvenile asymptomatic carriers (p<0.0001). In those IDH patients who developed HAM/TSP during follow-up, PVL levels did not vary significantly. HAM/TSP development did not occur in those IDH patients who presented high levels of PVL. IDH remission was associated with an increase of PVL. Inter-individual differences in PVL were observed within all groups. However, intra-individual PVL did not fluctuate significantly during follow-up.
Conclusions/Significance
High PVL in IDH patients was not necessary indicative of progression to HAM/TSP. PVL did not decrease after IDH remission. The maintenance of high PVL after remission could favor early development of ATL. Therefore, IDH patients would have to be followed-up even after remission of IDH and for a long period of time.

# metadata.dc.description.sponsorship[].value
This work was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia (FAPESB, www.fapesb.ba.gov.br) [Grant number RED0028/2012 to L.F.], Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, www.cnpq.br)[Grant number 409985/ 2016-3 to A.L.B.]. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska Marie Curie grant (https://ec.europa.eu) [agreement number 799850 to L.F.] The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2019, vol. 13, num. 12, p. e0007705.

# metadata.dc.source[].value
Articles publicats en revistes (Institut d'lnvestigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL))

# metadata.dc.title[].value
HTLV-1 proviral load in infective dermatitis associated with HTLV-1 does not increase after the development of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis and does not decrease after IDH remission