GRAVES-DISEASE IN HTLV-I CARRIERS

Three carriers of human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) with Grav es' disease are reported. All three cases were complicated with uveiti s, and one also showed chronic arthropathy. Anti-HLTV-I antibody was f ound in the serum by the particle agglutination method and western blo tting, and HTLV-I proviral DNA was detected in peripheral lymphocytes by the polymerase chain reaction and Southern blotting. HTLV-I is a ca usal agent of adult T-cell leukemia and HTLV-I associated myelopathy/t ropical spastic paraparesis, and is believed to be related to the path ogenesis of diseases such as chronic arthropathy, uveitis, chronic bro nchoalveolitis, and Sjogren's syndrome. On the other hand, retrovirus infection is considered to cause autoimmune diseases. Thus, the pathog enesis of Graves' disease in the present patients might be associated with HTLV-I infection.