Unusual CD4+CD8+phenotype in a Greek patient diagnosed with adult T-cell leukemia positive for human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I)

We describe the first Greek patient diagnosed with Adult T cell leukemia (A TL) characterized by an expansion of CD4 + CD8 + double positive lymphocyte s. Low levels of plasma antibodies against HTLV-I Env and Gag proteins were detected. Analysis of the the patient's DNA revealed that she was infected by a cosmopolitan strain of HTLV-I. Since HTLV-I usually leads to the expa nsion of CD4 + cells, this patient illustrates a rare immunophenotype, whic h suggests that the HTLV-I-induced proliferative response may occur in a pr e-T cell stage. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.