Guidelines for Counseling Persons Infected with Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type I (HTLV-I) and Type II (HTLV-II)

doi:10.1059/0003-4819-118-6-199303150-00009

Guidelines for Counseling Persons Infected with Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type I (HTLV-I) and Type II (HTLV-II)

Centers For Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S.P.H.S. Working Group.

Investigators in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S.P.H.S. Working Group comprise Rima F. Khabbaz, MD; Keiji Fukuda, MD; Jonathan E. Kaplan, MD; Cielso Bianco, MD; William Blattner, MD; Michael Busch, MD, PhD; Roger Dodd, MD; Jay Epstein, MD; Ronald Gilcher, MD; Craig Jackson, PhD; Louis Katz, MD; Steven Kleinman, MD; Edward L. Murphy, MD, MPH; George Nemo, PhD; Bernard J. Poiesz, MD; Maria Rios; Elaine Sloand, MD; Marian Sullivan, MS, MPH; Alan E. Williams, PhD. Requests for Reprints: Rima F. Khabbaz, MD, 6-275 MS G03, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333.

Abstract

The human T-lymphotropic viruses type I (HTLV-I) and type II (HTLV-II) are closely related but distinct retroviruses that can infect humans. They differ from the human immunodeficiency viruses that cause the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Screening of the U.S. blood supply for HTLV-I/II, which began in 1988, identifies HTLV-I- and HTLV-II-infected persons who need to be counseled regarding their infections. This paper summarizes current information about the HTLV viruses and presents guidelines developed by the Centers for Disease Control and a United States Public Health Service working group for counseling persons infected with HTLV-I and HTLV-II.