[Antibodies against HTLV-1 in patients undergoing multiple transfusions]

HTLV-1 is a retrovirus which causes adult T cell leukemia and is transmitted through contaminated blood products. Patients who have received multiple transfusions are therefore at high risk of HTLV-1 infection. Since it has been postulated that 0.5% of Spanish blood donors present HTLV-1 antibodies, we decided to investigate the presence of these in 154 polytransfused patients in Barcelona. We could not demonstrate the presence of HTLV-1 infection in any of the patients although six of them gave positive ELISA results repeatedly. The validity of tests previously used for the detection of HTLV-1 antibodies is discussed and multicentric studies with a wider population sample are suggested in order to establish the real incidence of HTLV-1 infection in our community.