Hematologic and Biochemical Changes Associated with Human T Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 Infection in Jamaica: A Report from the Population-Based Blood Donors Study

Abstract

Objective. We investigated changes in hematologic and biochemical parameters associated with human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection, antibody titer, and provirus load. Additionally, on a subset of participants, we assessed the epidemiologic relationship of HTLV-1 with Strongyloides stercoralis. Methods. Among volunteer blood donors in Jamaica, HTLV-1 carriers (n = 482) were frequency matched with HTLV-1 negative subjects (n = 355) by age (±5 years), sex, and date of blood donation (±3 months). HTLV-1 antibody titer, provirus load, S. stercoralis IgG antibodies, complete blood cell count, blood chemistry, and urinalysis parameters were measured. Results. HTLV-1 carriers, compared with HTLV-1–negative individuals, had elevated levels of cleaved lymphocytes (24.5% vs. 16.4%), any lymphocyte abnormalities (atypical, cleaved, and reactive lymphocytes combined, 45.7% vs. 35.4%), and γ-glutamyl transferase levels (21.2 vs. 19.6 IU/L), as well as lower eosinophil count (2.6% vs. 3.1%). Among carriers, HTLV-1 antibody titer (n = 482) was inversely correlated with mean corpuscular volume (r = -0.10) and positively correlated with levels of total protein (r = 0.16), phosphorus (r = 0.12), and lactate dehydrogenase (r = 0.24). HTLV-1–provirus load (n = 326) was higher among carriers with cleaved lymphocytes and any lymphocyte abnormalities. Provirus load was inversely correlated with hemoglobin (r = -0.11), mean corpuscular volume (r = -0.15), neutrophil (r = -0.12), and eosinophil (r = -0.19) levels and was positively correlated with lactate dehydrogenase levels (r = 0.12). Provirus load was significantly higher among male than female subjects. S. stercoralis antibodies were detected in 35 (12.1%) of 288 participants but were not associated with HTLV-1 status, antibody titer, or provirus load. Conclusions. Markers of HTLV-1 infection (infection status, antibody titer, and provirus load) are associated with hematologic and biochemical alterations, such as lymphocyte abnormalities, anemia, decreased eosinophils, and elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels.