Hypergammaglobulinemia and Corneal Opacitie in Patient with Human T-Cell Lymphotrophic Viru Type–1

Purpoe To invetigate the relationhip between erum immunoglobulin level and corneal opacitie in a cohort of patient with human T-cell lymphotrophic viru type-1 (HTLV-1). Deign Retropective cae erie. Method Complete ophthalmologic examination wa performed on 44 patient with HTLV-1 infection (25 patient with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma [ATL], 18 patient with HTLV-1 that wa aociated myelopathy/tropical patic paraparei [HAM/TP], and one patient who wa aymptomatic). Corneal opacitie were decribed by hape, ize, color, and location. erum immunoglobulin (Ig) level (IgG, IgM, and IgA) were meaured by nephelometry. Reult Corneal opacitie were identified in 15 of 25 patient (60%) with ATL and five of 18 patient (28%) with HAM/TP. The prevalence of corneal opacitie wa aociated tatitically with elevated IgG level (P = .023) in patient with ATL, but not in patient with HAM/TP (P > .99). Concluion Although the mechanim remain unclear, hypergammaglobulinemia i aociated with the development of the corneal opacitie in patient of African decent with ATL.