High proviral load of human T cell lymphotropic virus type-1 facilitates coronary artery diseases

OBJECTIVE(S): Coronary artery disease (CAD) is known as a life threatening disease, worldwide. In this study the role of HTLV-1 infection was evaluated on cardiac involvement in an endemic region of northeastern Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serologic and molecular tests for HTLV-1 infection were carried out in subjects who had coronary angiography. A real-time PCR, TaqMan method, to quantify HTLV-1 proviral load (PVL), and routine hematological and biochemical tests were performed for study subjects. RESULTS: Twenty nine patients were HTLV-1+CAD+ and 13 cases were HTLV-1+CAD-. Although, there were no significant differences for risk factors like FBS, HDL, triglyceride, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (Cbp, Dbp), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (WL), cholesterol (P=0.003), and LDL (P=0.007) levels, and monocyte count (P=0.05) had meaningful differences. The mean HTLV-1 PVL in HTLV-1+CAD+ subjects was 992.62±120 which was higher compared with HTLV-1+CAD- group (406.54±302 copies/104 PBMCs). Moreover, HTLV-1 PVL in males (833±108) was lower compared with females (1218±141 copies/104 PBMCs) (P=0.05). Patients with HTLV-1-PVL of more than 500 copies/104 had more diffused atherosclerosis plaque than patients with less than 500 (OR=6.87, 95% CI=1.34-35.05; P=0.016). Furthermore, patients with diffused coronary atherosclerosis had significantly higher levels of HTLV-1 PVL than patients with middle, proximal, and normal location of coronary sclerotic lesions (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Taken together, in endemic area, HTLV-1 infection, more likely is a facilitating factor for heart complications and the high HTLV-1 PVL might affect CAD manifestations.