Short communication: Prevalence and risk factors for human T cell lymphotropic virus infection in Southern Brazilian HIV-positive patients.

Abstract

HIV/human T cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) coinfection has a large range of prevalence in the different risk groups and geographic regions of the world. Most of the HTLV-infected people live in geographic areas where the virus is endemic, as it happens in Brazil. The aim of this study was to identify HTLV prevalence and risk factors in HIV-positive patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 580 HIV-positive patients (mean age of 40.6 years and 45.0% men) from a specialized HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment center in Southern Brazil. Sociodemographic data, HIV risk factors, and HTLV-1/2 antibodies were collected. HTLV proviral DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors for HTLV infection. HTLV antibodies were detected in 29 (5.0%) and HTLV provirus in 17 (2.9%) patients. HTLV-1 was identified in 11 (64.7%) patients and HTLV-2 in 6 (35.3%) patients. No significant differences were observed between mono and coinfected patients in clinical characteristics regarding HIV/AIDS (time since HIV diagnosis, HIV viral load, lymphocytes CD4(+) count, and use of highly active antiretroviral therapy). Blood transfusion history was significantly associated with HIV/HTLV coinfection (p=0.039). Alcohol abuse was more prevalent in HTLV-positive (47.1%) than in HIV mono-infected patients (20.4%; p=0.008). Tattooing was the only risk factor independently associated with HIV/HTLV coinfection (p=0.035). This information contributes to an understanding of the epidemiology of HIV/HTLV coinfection in Brazil.