HYPERCALCEMIA IN HEALTHY BLOOD DONORS - HTLV-1 CARRIERS

Hypercalcaemia is a major manifestation of human T-cell leukaemia viru s type-1/adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (HTLV-1 leukaemia/ATL). The h ypercalcaemia may, in fact, be the earliest presentation of the diseas e. We undertook this study to determine whether hypercalcaemia also is a feature of HTLV-1 carrier status. We estimated serum calcium in 37 HTLV-1 positive healthy carriers, and in 37 HTLV-1 negative controls a mongst blood donors, in Trinidad, matched for age, sex and ethnicity. Hypercalcaemia was present in 8 (21.6%) healthy carriers but in none o f the controls. Although hypercalcaemia is not a sensitive indicator o f HTLV-1 positive carrier status in the blood donor population, there is a significant association (P < 0.005). Its estimation may be useful , therefore, in identifying some carriers in endemic regions, where HT LV-1 screening is not done due to its prohibitive cost. Hypercalcaemia detected in HTLV-1 healthy adult blood donors in endemic regions may be an early manifestation of ATL and other diseases associated with HT LV-1, and may also shed light on the aetiology of familial benign hype rcalcaemia. Med Sci Res 26:563-566 (C) 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilk ins.