[Clinical features of adult T-cell leukemia]

Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is T-cell leukemic non Hodgkins' malignant lymphoma; 73 percent of 199 non Hodgkins' lymphomas were of T-cell origin, and 58 percent of these T-cell lymphomas were ATL in Nagasaki, Japan. ATL cells are mostly characteristic in the specific nuclear indentations. These cells have a commonly helper T-cell phenotype on the reaction to the Leu series monoclonal antibody, and the cells showed a suppressor function to normal B-cell differentiation by PWM. Miscellaneous infections, probably due to T-cell disfunction have been frequently experienced in ATL. Pulmonary infections, especially interstitial pneumonitis, were characteristic. Bone destraction through osteocrast proliferation was suggested to be the main cause of hypercalcemia. Many cases with familiar disposition have been found in ATL and T-ML, and 3 siblings having ATL and T-ML were presented. ATLA antibody was positive in all cases of ATL and 63 percent of T-ML. Positive rate of ATLA antibody in healthy spouses and siblings of ATL and T-ML patients was high. ATLA (antigen) on the mononuclear cells of almost all the ATL and ATLA antibody positive T-ML was positive. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 2 cases of mycosis fungoides were also positive for ATLA. Probably pre ATL cases with low grade leukocytosis and the presence of ATL cell like lymphocytes and positive rate of ATLA antibody and antigen of these cases were presented. By the chromosome study of 14 cases of ATL, chromosome aberrations of No. 2, 3 and 18 were frequently observed.