OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immune response and proviral load in individuals with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and erectile dysfunction (ED) compared with those in the controls.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of 102 men aged 18-70 years with positive serology for HTLV-1, who were interviewed from 2004 to 2010. The study sample was divided into 2 groups: group 1, 42 HTLV-1-infected men with ED, as determined by the International Index of Erectile Function-5 score; and group 2, 60 HTLV-1-infected men without ED. The cytokines interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α, and the proviral load were analyzed between the 2 groups.
RESULTS: Compared with those without ED, the men with ED had greater levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (545.37 ± 877.06 vs 509.39 ± 724.70 pg/mL) and interferon-γ (1154.35 ± 1282.98 vs 1122.78 ± 1573.16 pg/mL), but this difference was not significant (P = .69 and P = .57, respectively). The proviral load was 135,695 ± 190,113 copies/105 cells in the ED group and 47,607 ± 83,129 copies/105 cells in the non-ED patients, with a statistically significant difference (P = .02). When ED was stratified as mild, moderate, and severe, no difference was found in the proviral load among the ED groups (P = .09); however, the levels were greater in the severe forms.
CONCLUSION: The association of a greater proviral load in men with ED with HTLV-1 gives support to the idea that ED is part of the autonomic syndrome related to viral infection and should be investigated for early identification of the syndrome.
Written by:
Tannus M, Costa DT, Castro NM, Oliveira P, Carvalho N, Andrade R, Santos S, Carvalho EM. Are you the author?
Department of Immunologic Service, University Hospital Professor Edgard Santos, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador-Bahia, Brazil.
Reference: Urology. 2013 Jun;81(6):1261-4.
doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2013.02.014
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23726450
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