Two cases of adult T-cell leukaemia

A 70-year-old male and a 46-year-old female, both living in Japan, were seen because of multiple erythematous papules and plaques on the trunk and extremities. The peripheral white blood cell counts were increased to 30,000-80,000/mm3. The majority of white cells had characteristic lobulated and deeply indented nuclei. The patients and most of their family members had anti-ATLV antibody. Using an OKT series of monoclonal antibodies the tumour cells were found to be T-cells. Trisomy 21 was detected in the first case and ATL virus proviral DNA in the second.