Gastroduodenal complications in patients with adult T-cell leukemia.

Gastroduodenal endoscopic examinations were performed on 15 patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). Twelve had the disease in acute form, two in chronic form and one patient was in crisis. Eight patients had gastroduodenal lesions, four esophageal candidiasis, three gastric infiltration and two duodenal ATL-cell infiltration. Four out of the five patients who had the gastroduodenal ATL-cell infiltration complained of gastroduodenal symptoms such as anorexia, upper abdominal pain, diarrhea and melena. Our observations suggested that these gastroduodenal symptoms were related to the gastroduodenal ATL-cell infiltration. Esophageal candidiasis in ATL could be related to immunodeficiency.