Infection with Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type I in Patients with Leukemia

To the Editor: Minamoto et al. (Jan. 28 issue)¹ confirmed observations from Japan that blood transfusions can transmit human T-cell leukemia virus Type I (HTLV-I).² We have previously reported a case in a 56-year-old Japanese woman from Hawaii who seroconverted to HTLV-I after induction and consolidation therapy for acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, during which she received a total of 20 units of packed red cells and 93 units of platelet concentrate. She remains free of physical and laboratory evidence of adult T-cell leukemia and of spastic paraparesis.³ Cell cultures have demonstrated active viral-antigen production. Her husband is serologically negative at this.