Adult T-cell leukemia
| Classification according to ICD-10 | |
|---|---|
| C91.5 | T-cell leukemia in adults |
| ICD-10 online (WHO version 2019) | |
The adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is a special type of T-cell leukemia caused by the retrovirus HTLV-I is caused.
Clinical features, role of HTLV-I
The disease was first described by Takatsuki and colleagues in 1977. A few years later, HTLV-1 was discovered in Robert Gallo's group . The retrovirus can be detected in 100% of those suffering from ATL (on the one hand serologically , on the other hand by means of PCR ).
The disease usually only manifests itself after the age of 60. However, only 1–3% of those infected with HTLV-1 develop ATL in their lifetime. Since the infection with HTLV-1 has often already occurred perinatally through the breast milk of infected mothers, the virus has an unusually long latency of 60 years and more. It also becomes clear that the virus infection alone is not enough to trigger ATL and that other factors must also be added, such as: B. Acquired genetic changes. The virus can also be transmitted through sexual contact, through unsterile injection equipment during intravenous drug consumption or through infected blood products (transfusions).
Clinically, ATL can manifest itself more as leukemia or more than malignant lymphoma . The course varies from slow chronic to fast and acute. In the peripheral blood smear , so-called flower cells are characteristic. Hypercalcaemia is often found . The prognosis is generally unfavorable and a cure is not possible in the vast majority of cases, which is also due to the fact that most patients are older, so that more intensive chemotherapy is no longer possible.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Kiyoshi Takatsuki: Discovery of adult T-cell leukemia . Retrovirology 2005, 2:16 (link to: full text in English )
- ↑ flower cells
