Trial Information

A Study of Familial and Genetic Aspects of Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma, Tropical Spastic Paraparesis and Infective Dermatitis in Jamaica

Doctors of the University of West Indies, the Caribbean Epidemiology Center (CAREC) and the
National Cancer Institute have been studying the epidemiology of HTLV-I and its role in the
etiology and pathogenesis of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ALT), and aggressive T-cell
lymphoma. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate familial and genetic aspects of
ATL and its relationship to two other HTLV-I related conditions, HTLV-I associated
myelopathy also known as tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), and infective dermatitis.
Enrollment of infective dermatitis cases was recently added and the disease entity is
thought to be a harbinger for later development of either ATL or HAM/TSP. The purpose of
this study is to interview patients with these conditions and perform laboratory studies
(specifically, HLA and other viral or genetic studies) to better understand these diseases
and their relationship to the HTLV-1 virus and the family history and genetic factors that
may be involved as well.