HTLV‐I infection in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's thyroiditis)

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Abstract
To investigate the possible relationship of HTLV‐I virus infection to autoimmune thyroid disease, we examined, firstly, the frequency of HTLV‐I seropositivity among patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and, secondly, the frequency of Hashimoto's thyroiditis in patients with HTLV‐I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Of 144 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis in the Tokushima and Kochi Prefectures, Japan, 9 (6.3%) were positive for serum HTLV‐I virus antibody 2 of whom were confirmed histologically to have Hashimoto's thyroiditis. This percentage is significantly higher (P < 0.01) than the estimated prevalence (2.2%) of HTLV‐I carriers among the general population in this region. Of 9 patients with HAM/TSP, 3 (33.3%), including 2 biopsy‐proven cases, had evidence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. This proportion is apparently much higher than the prevalence (1.7%) of Hashimoto's thyroiditis in the general population. These findings suggest that HTLV‐I virus may be related to the development of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.