Abstract

MONTALVO, R et al. An unusual presentation of HTLV-1 infection: a pandora box of opportunist infections. Rev. argent. dermatol. [online]. 2018, vol.99, n.2, pp.1-10. ISSN 1851-300X.

HTLV-1 is an endemic retrovirus in Peru , occasionally associated with some isolated opportunistic infections. We present the case of a 41-year-old male poultry farmer with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis treated 6 months ago. He was admitted to emergency due to alteration of conscience, dysarthria and watery diarrhea; the examination revealed confluent plaques in the oral cavity, violaceous maculopapular lesions and crusted plaques. Skin biopsy confirmed Kaposi's sarcoma and crusted scabies; in addition, cervical lymphadenopathies showed evidence of BAAR (++) in the microscopic study with Auramine test, and in the examination of feces with modified Zielh Nielsen's stain, Cystoisospora belli oocyst was observed, and trimetropin / sulfametozaxol received antituberculous treatment. HTLV-1 was confirmed by immunofluorescence. In the fundus of the eye cytomegalovirus retinitis was evidenced, he received ganciclovir. At three weeks of hospital admission he died due to severe respiratory failure. We discuss the presence of multiple opportunistic co-infections in a patient with immunosuppression by HTLV-1.

Keywords : HTLV-1; scabby scabies; tuberculosis; Kaposi's sarcoma; Cystoisospora belli; cytomegalovirus; oral candidiasis.