Arthritis syndromes associated with human T cell lymphotropic virus type I infection

The Human T Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type I (HTLV-I) causes the syndromes of adult T cell leukemia (ATLL) found primarily in southern Japan, the Caribbean basin, parts of Africa and the southern United States. HTLV-I infection also is associated with other clinical syndromes, one of which is a proliferative synovitis syndrome clinically similar to rheumatoid arthritis. Remembering that arthritis may be the presenting manifestation of HTLV-I infection can aid in the diagnosis of HTLV-I disease. In addition, understanding the pathogenesis of synovial proliferation in HTLV-I associated arthritis may provide clues to understanding basic molecular mechanisms of joint inflammation in a wide variety of non-HTLV-I associated arthritis syndromes.