Autoimmune disease and HTLV-1 infection: case report

We describe two patients who presented with mixed connective disease. Both had antinuclear antibodies and antibodies to the extractable nuclear antigen U1RNP, and both were found to be seropositive for HTLV-1 infection. We found no evidence of HTLV-1 infection in 20 other patients known to have antibodies to U1RNP or in 36 British and West German patients with idiopathic adult polmyositis. In addition the serum from 20 anti-HTLV-1 positive patients did not contain antinuclear antibodies or antibodies to UR1NP. We conclude that the rheumatological disease is associated with HTLV-1 through geographical rather than aetiological means.(AU)