Int J Infect Dis. 2026 Apr 21:108732. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2026.108732. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To compare ocular manifestations, coinfections, and systemic disease profiles between ophthalmic patients with HIV infection and those with HTLV-1 infection.
METHODS: This retrospective cohort study reviewed medical records from January 2012 through August 2023 at a single tertiary ophthalmology center in Tokyo. Ophthalmic patients with confirmed HIV infection or HTLV-1 infection were included. Ocular manifestations, coinfections, and systemic diseases were compared between the two groups.
RESULTS: HTLV-1 uveitis was the predominant ocular diagnosis in the HTLV-1 group (79 of 91 eyes, 87%), whereas cytomegalovirus retinitis was the most frequent ocular diagnosis in the HIV group (7 of 30 eyes, 23%). Coinfections were more common in the HIV group than in the HTLV-1 group (74% vs 25%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 28.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.3-285.7; P < 0.001). In contrast, systemic diseases were more common in the HTLV-1 group than in the HIV group (61% vs 17%; aOR, 18.1; 95% CI, 3.35-128.5; P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmic patients with HIV and HTLV-1 infection showed distinct ocular and systemic profiles. These findings suggest that HTLV-1 may be underrecognized in ophthalmic practice and support consideration of targeted HTLV-1 testing in uveitis of unknown etiology in endemic settings.
PMID:42025747 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijid.2026.108732
