[A case of an HLTV-I carrier associated with Basedow's disease and uveitis]

A 73-year-old female being treated for Basedow's disease developed misty vision and hyperemia of the right eye. A local ophthalmologist diagnosed uveitis, and referred her to our department for more detailed examinations. As a result of the detailed examination, neither sarcoidosis, Behçet's disease nor any other condition suggesting autoimmune disease was observed. On the other hand, she was positive for anti-HTLV-I antibody by the EIA and Western blot method, which implied HTLV-I associated uveitis (HAU). Recently, the involvement of HTLV-I related genes in the onset of Basedow's disease has been reported and there is also a report that the positivity of anti-HTLV-I antibody was high in elderly patients with Basedow's diseases, therefore, the possibility of involvement of HTLV-I infection was considered in the etiology of Basedow's disease in the present case.