[Infection by human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I/II in polytransfused patients in the state of Yucatán, Mexico].

The relationship between several disorders, including adult T-cell leukaemia, and HTLV I/II virus infection has been clearly demonstrated. In order to assess the prevalence of such viral infection in a group of multiple-transfusion patients in the State of Yucatan, Mexico, a study was carried out on 140 patients with anti-HTLV-I/II antibodies demonstrated by ELISA and sensitized particles agglutination test. The patients had received 447 units of blood or blood components as a whole, and the mean time elapsed between the transfusion and the study was 2.5 years (range, 0.5-40), other risks of infection being discarded. No HTLV I/II reactivity was found along this study, thus showing the low prevalence and scarce risk for the transmission of this disease in Yucatan.