[Uveitis in human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) carriers--3. A molecular biological study].

The presence of proviral DNA of human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) in the inflammatory cells in the aqueous humor was examined by polymerase chain reaction. The proviral DNA was detected in all the tested patients (n = 9) with HTLV-I uveitis. On the other hand, the provirus was not detected in 2 out of 3 HTLV-I seropositive patients with other types of uveitis, i.e., Behçet's disease, toxoplasmosis and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada's disease. None of the 11 seronegative patients with other types of uveitis or senile cataract had proviral DNA in the aqueous humor. Thus, the fact that HTLV-I-infected cells were present in the aqueous humor of all HTLV-I uveitis patients suggests significant involvement of HTLV-I in the pathophysiology of the uveitis.