Lack of association of Human T-cell Lymphotrophic Virus Type 1(HTLV-1) infection and rheumatoid arthritis in an endemic area

 In South Africa the association of HTLV-1 infection with myelopathy is well described in Kwa Zulu Natal, which is an endemic area for HTLV-1 infection. Japan also has a high background prevalence of HTLV-1 infection, and a significant association of HTLV-1 infection with rheumatoid arthritis has been reported. This study was undertaken to determine whether there was an association with HTLV-1 infection among black Africans with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa. A randomly selected group of 110 black people with RA were studied. The age, sex and duration of disease were recorded and a rheumatoid factor test was performed. The presence of antibodies to HTLV-1 was assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The integration of proviral DNA in peripheral blood monocytes was also studied using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Control data were available from a previously reported community-based study of 1018 subjects from the same geographical area. None of the 110 patients studied were positive for HTLV-1 infection by serology or by PCR. Although HTLV-1 infection is reported as a possible triggering agent for RA in Japan, we failed to detect any excess of HTLV-1 infection in black Africans with RA. Our findings are in agreement with observations in the USA and Europe. Received: 27 December 2001 / Accepted: 22 July 2002 Acknowledgements This project was supported by a grant from the University of Natal Research Fund. We wish to thank Professor A.I. Bhigjee for his encouragement to undertake this study and Sister N.G. Mkhize for assistance with the study.