Elevated anti-human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I antibody in serum of patients with retinal vasculitis and uveitis living in Izumo area.

Four patients with human T-lymphotropic virus type I associated myelopathy (HAM) were examined ophthalmologically, and serum titers to human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) in 11 patients with nonspecific retinal vasculitis or uveitis were determined. All of the patients lived in the Izumo area. All 4 patients with HAM (Cases 1 to 4) had vitreous opacities. Of the 11 patients with nonspecific retinal vasculitis or uveitis, 3 (Cases 5 to 7) had elevated titers to HTLV-I. We believe that HTLV-I infection may be involved in the causes of retinal vasculitis and uveitis in patients living not only in the endemic area but also outside the endemic area.