Human T-cell leukemia virus type I associated lymphadenitis.

Histopathologic changes in lymph nodes were examined from ten patients with mild lymphadenopathy, a few atypical lymphocytes in their peripheral blood, skin lesions, and proviral DNA of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) in their nodes. The proviral DNA of HTLV-I was detected by southern blot analysis, in situ hybridization, and/or polymerase chain reaction techniques. The lymph nodes showed preserved nodal architecture with diffuse infiltration of small to intermediate-sized lymphocytes in association with scattered transformed lymphocytes and a few immunoblast-like cells in the enlarged paracortex. The infiltrating lymphocytes were positive for CD4, but neither rearrangement nor deletion of T-cell receptors and immunoglobulin heavy chain genes was detected. Eight of ten patients received no therapy, and all patients were alive and healthy more than 5 months after the biopsies. The histologic findings resembled those of a viral infection and could be distinguished from HTLV-I associated lymphomas.