What is HTLV-1?
What is HTLV-1?
HTLV stands for Human T cell Leukemia Virus. It is a retrovirus that infects a type of white blood cell called a T-cell or T-lymphocyte.
HTLV-1 is a very old virus, which appears to have infected and moved with humans for hundreds, if not thousands of years.
How is HTLV-1 passed on?
HTLV-1 can be passed on through infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal secretions, breast milk and organ transplants. The most common ways HTLV-1 is passed on are:
HTLV stands for Human T cell Leukemia Virus. It is a retrovirus that infects a type of white blood cell called a T-cell or T-lymphocyte.
HTLV-1 is a very old virus, which appears to have infected and moved with humans for hundreds, if not thousands of years.
How is HTLV-1 passed on?
HTLV-1 can be passed on through infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal secretions, breast milk and organ transplants. The most common ways HTLV-1 is passed on are:
- Sex without a condom
- Sharing used needles, syringes or other injecting drug equipment
- Mother to child (the risk of transmission can be significantly reduced via this route if breast feeding is avoided)
- Blood Transfusion/Organ Transplants (blood and organs should not be donated if infected with HTLV. Blood and organs are screened in the UK)
Does HTLV-1 cause any diseases?
The great majority of people infected with HTLV-1 do not develop any related disease. A small minority of individuals, about 1 in 20 of these infected, will develop disease due to HTLV-1, but this usually occurs after several decades of infection.
HTLV-1 can cause a type of blood cancer or inflammatory disease.
ATLL (Adult T-cell Leukaemia/Lymphoma) is a rare form of cancer of the blood, divided into four sub-types.
HAM/TSP (HTLV-1-Associated Myelopathy/ Tropical Spastic Paraparesis) is an inflammation of the cells in the spinal cord that can cause stiffness and weakness of the legs, lower leg and backache, a 'weak' bladder, constipation and erectile dysfunction.
HTLV-1 may also cause inflammation of the eye (uveitis), joints (arthritis), muscles (myositis), lung (alveolitis) and skin (dermatitis).
The great majority of people infected with HTLV-1 do not develop any related disease. A small minority of individuals, about 1 in 20 of these infected, will develop disease due to HTLV-1, but this usually occurs after several decades of infection.
HTLV-1 can cause a type of blood cancer or inflammatory disease.
ATLL (Adult T-cell Leukaemia/Lymphoma) is a rare form of cancer of the blood, divided into four sub-types.
HAM/TSP (HTLV-1-Associated Myelopathy/ Tropical Spastic Paraparesis) is an inflammation of the cells in the spinal cord that can cause stiffness and weakness of the legs, lower leg and backache, a 'weak' bladder, constipation and erectile dysfunction.
HTLV-1 may also cause inflammation of the eye (uveitis), joints (arthritis), muscles (myositis), lung (alveolitis) and skin (dermatitis).