Clinical Significance of Adult T-Cell Leukemia (ATL)-Associated Antigens (ATLA), Anti-ATLA Antibody and Adult T-Cell Leukemia Virus (ATLV)/Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type-I (HTLV-I) Proviral DNA in ATL, Adult T-Cell Malignant Lymphoma (AT-ML) and Hodgkin's Disease in Kagoshima District

Abstract

We examined anti-ATLA antibody (anti-ATLA) in 77 cases of ATL, 30 AT-ML and 15 Hodgkin's disease in Kagoshima district (ATL endemic area of Japan). Anti-ATLA was detected in all cases (77/77) of ATL, 80% (24/30) of AT-ML and 53% (8/15) of Hodgkin's disease.
In ATL, ATLA was detected in 71% (12/17) (geometric mean titer of antiATLA: 24.5) and HTLV-1 proviral DNA in all cases (13/13). In AT-ML with anti-ATLA, ATLA was detected in 86% (6/7) (geometric mean titer of anti-ATLA: 53.8) and HTLV-1 proviral DNA in all cases (5/5). HTLV-1 proviral DNA was examined in one case of AT-ML without anti-ATLA. In this case, HTLV-1 proviral DNA was demonstrated.
We examined ATLA in only one case of Hodgkin's disease with anti-ATLA. In this case, ATLA was detected, but HTLV-1 proviral DNA was not detected.
The detection of HTLV-1 proviral DNA was useful the diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disease, especially, adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma in the endemic area of HTLV-1.