John Libbey Eurotext




Adult-onset infective dermatitis associated with HTLV-I. Clinical and immunopathological aspects of two cases
European Journal of Dermatology. Volume 16, Number 1, 62-6, January-February 2006, Clinical report
Free Article
Author(s) : Achiléa L Bittencourt, Maria de Fátima Oliveira, Neide Ferraz, Maria das Graças Vieira, André Muniz, Carlos Brites
Summary : Infective dermatitis associated with HTLV-I (IDH) is a chronic, infected childhood eczema. Two adult-onset cases of IDH were studied, one of which was associated with HAM/TSP. The patients were submitted to dermatological, neurological and pathological examination. Immunohistochemical studies were made using CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD79a, and CD57 antibodies. Cytotoxic granules were investigated using granzyme B, perforin, and TIA. The patients presented infected erythematous, scaly lesions with mild itching and a good response to sulfamethoxazole/ trimethoprim. A differential diagnosis with atopic dermatitis (AD) and seborrheic dermatitis (SD) was made, based on: the distinctive morphology and distribution of the lesions, presence of exudative and infected lesions, and mild pruritus. The inflammatory infiltrate was composed predominantly of CD8+ lymphocytes that did not present cytotoxic granules. We concluded that IDH can begin in adulthood and may be associated with HAM/TSP. The immunohistochemical findings were different from those observed in AD and SD.
Keywords : HTLV-I infection, infective dermatitis, inflammatory simulators of mycosis fungoides, adult-onset infective dermatitis

Adult-onset infective dermatitis associated with HTLV-I. Clinical and immunopathological aspects of two cases