PRIMARY SJOGRENS-SYNDROME WITH ANTIBODIES TO HTLV-I - CLINICAL AND LABORATORY FEATURES

The prevalence of antibodies to human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) was studied in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome. Thirteen of 36 serum samples were positive by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and particle agglutination assay for antibodies to HTLV-I and were confirmed by western blotting. The presence of antibodies to HTLV-I may signify an HTLV-I carrier state. These patients had a high occurrence of extraglandular manifestations such as uveitis, myopathy, and recurrent high fever compared with patients who did not have antibodies to HTLV-I. Patients with antibodies to HTLV-I had an increased spontaneous proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells compared with those without the antibodies. The proportions of activated and memory T cells (HLA-DR+CD3+, CD25+CD3+, and CD29+CD4+ cells) were higher in HTLV-I carriers than in non-carriers. The presence of antibodies to HTLV-I in some patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome suggests that HTLV-I may cause primary Sjogren's syndrome or its extraglandular manifestations, or both.