Making the invisible visible: searching for human T-cell lymphotropic virus types 1 and 2 (HTLV-1 and HTLV-2) in Brazilian patients with viral hepatitis B and C

With this study, the authors hope to alert clinicians regarding the presence of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 and 2 (HTLV-1/-2) infections in patients with viral hepatitis B and C in Brazil. HTLV-1/-2 were detected in 1.3% of hepatitis B virus (HBV)- and 5.3% of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected blood samples sent for laboratory viral load measurements. A partial association of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 and HTLV-1/-2 infection was detected in patients with HCV (HIV+, 27.3%), whereas this association was almost 100% in HBV-infected patients (HIV+, all except one). The high prevalence of HTLV-1/-2 infection among patients with hepatitis C was of concern, as HTLV-1/-2 could change the natural course of subsequent liver disease. The authors suggest including HTLV-1/-2 serology in the battery of tests used when following patients with viral hepatitis in Brazil, regardless of the HIV status.

本研究旨在提醒临床医生关注巴西乙型、丙型病毒性肝炎患者中人类T淋巴细胞病毒1型和2型（human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 and 2，HTLV-1/-2）的感染情况。在送检用于实验室病毒载量检测的血液样本中，乙型肝炎病毒（hepatitis B virus）感染者的HTLV-1/-2检出率为1.3%，丙型肝炎病毒（hepatitis C virus）感染者的检出率为5.3%。在HCV感染者中，可检测到人类免疫缺陷病毒1型（human immunodeficiency virus 1，HIV-1）与HTLV-1/-2感染存在部分相关性，其中HIV阳性者占比达27.3%；而在HBV感染者中，该相关性几乎达到100%，仅1例患者HIV呈阴性。丙型肝炎患者中HTLV-1/-2感染的高患病率值得警惕，因为HTLV-1/-2可能改变后续肝脏疾病的自然病程。研究人员建议，在巴西对病毒性肝炎患者进行随访时，无论患者的HIV感染状态如何，均应将HTLV-1/-2血清学检测纳入常规检测组合中。