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HTLV-1 infection is associated with a history of active tuberculosis among family members of HTLV-1-infected patients in Peru

2007; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 136; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1017/s0950268807009521

1469-4409

Kristien Verdonck, Elsa González, Ward Schrooten, Guido Vanham, Eduardo Gotuzzo,

Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology

SUMMARY The purpose of this study was to assess the association between human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) and a lifetime history of active tuberculosis (TB) among relatives of HTLV-1-infected patients. We reviewed clinical charts of all relatives of HTLV-1-infected index cases who attended our institute in Lima from 1990–2004. The data of 1233 relatives was analysed; 394 (32·0%) were HTLV-1 positive. Eighty-one subjects (6·6%) had a history of active TB, including 45/394 (11·4%) HTLV-1-positive and 36/839 (4·3%) HTLV-1-negative relatives ( P <0·001). On multivariate analysis, three factors were associated with TB history: HTLV-1 infection (adjusted OR 2·5, 95% CI 1·6–3·9), age (adjusted OR 1·3, 95% CI 1·1–1·5 per 10-year age increase) and relation to the index case (adjusted OR 2·6, 95% CI 1·3–5·1, for siblings vs . spouses of index cases). In conclusion, HTLV-1 infection may increase the susceptibility to active TB. In populations where both infections are frequent, such an association could affect the dynamics of TB.