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Original Article
 

Paradoxical coexistence of atopic asthma and Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type I (HTLV-I) infection: a case report
 

A. Souza-Machado1, Á. A. Cruz1, T. Sena Galvão1, André Muniz2, A. Porto2, S. Braga (Pharm), E. Marcelino Carvalho2

Center for Respiratory Diseases (CER)1 and Immunology Department2 of Professor Edgard Santos University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

J Invest Allergol Clin Immunol 2004; Vol. 14(4): 348-351
 

 Abstract


In this case report, the authors report the presence of two supposedly antagonic immune diseases in thesame patient. The patient is a 45-year-old white woman with a history of asthma and allergic rhinitis for the last 10 years. Asthmatic symptoms were present and were triggered after exposure to dust and mold. Her Human TLymphotropic Virus Type I (HTLV-I) seropositive status was detected by chance five years ago during a routine
screening for blood donation. Skin prick tests were positive for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae and Blomia tropicalis. Cytokine levels in unstimulated cultures were: IFNγ = 1195 pg/ ml, TNF∝ = 460 pg/ml, IL5 = 41 pg/ml and IL10 = 265 pg/ml.

Key words: asthma, interferon, allergy and retrovirus.