MARTINS, Fabiana Martins e; REZENDE, Nathalie Pepe Medeiros de; MAGALHAES, Marina Helena Cury Gallottini de    ORTEGA, Karem López. Getting to know HTLV and their implications during dental care. RGO, Rev. gaúch. odontol. (Online) []. 2011, 59, 2, pp. 293-297. ISSN 1981-8637.

The human T-lymphotropic viruses represent a group of retroviruses that possess tropism for T lymphocytes and are transmitted parenterally, vertically and sexually. Four types have been identified, 1, 2, 3 and 4. Type 1 has been most frequently associated with disease in infected individuals. It is estimated that 15 to 20 million people are affected by human T-lymphotropic virus type 1. In Brazil, the virus is endemic, presenting the greatest absolute number of cases in the world and included in blood bank screening tests. The main diseases associated with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 are adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and tropical spastic paraparesis. The only oral manifestation associated with human T-lymphotropic virus is adult T-cell lymphoma. Some authors believe it is possible for some patients with tropical spastic paraparesis to also present virus-related Sjögren's syndrome. Since human T-lymphotropic virus is contagious and potentially oncogenic, it demands attention from the dental surgeon not only for dental management but also for diagnosing associated diseases

: Oral Manifestations; Paraparesis tropical spastic; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1.