No evidence for HTLV-I infection in 24 cases of French and Portuguese mycosis fungoïdes and Sezary syndrome (as seen in France).

A survey in search of evidence for HTLV-I infection was conducted on French and Portuguese patients residing in France with a diagnosis of mycosis fungoïdes or Sezary syndrome. Methods used in this investigation included serological assays (ELISA, Western blot, particle agglutination, indirect immunofluorescence) and DNA molecular studies (Southern blot and polymerase chain reaction). Cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were performed and checked by electron microscopy and reverse transcriptase assay. The results indicate that neither HTLV-I nor a closely related retrovirus are associated with mycosis fungoïde or Sezary syndrome in the cases studied.