HTLV INFECTIONS AMONG SWEDISH INTRAVENOUS-DRUG-USERS IN 1992

Serum samples collected in 1992 from 1158 intravenous drug users (IVDU s) in Stockholm, Sweden, were tested retrospectively for antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus type I and TI (HTLV-I and II). The overall prevalence rate of HTLV infections was 2.4% (28/1158). A majority of the HTLV infections were caused by HTLV-II (27/28), A significant asso ciation between HTLV-II and HIV-I seropositivity was found, the preval ence of HTLV-II infection being 11.4% (11/96) in HIV-seropositive indi viduals compared with 1.5% (16/1062) in HIV-seronegative persons (p < 0.001), All the HTLV-infected individuals were of Scandinavian origin. No significant differences in age and sex distribution were observed in HTLV-infected persons compared to seronegative individuals. This st udy confirms that HTLV-II infection is present in the Swedish IVDU pop ulation and the findings provide baseline information for future epide miological studies.