Association of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 with prevalent rheumatoid arthritis among atomic bomb survivors: A cross-sectional study.
Ayumi HidaMisa ImaizumiBenjamin FrenchWaka OhishiDaisuke HarutaKatsumi EguchiHideki NakamuraAtsushi KawakamiPublished in: Medicine (2021)
Previous studies have suggested that human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) might act as a pathogen in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but epidemiological evidence of an association is scarce. We measured anti-HTLV-1 antibodies among Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors to determine whether HTLV-1 is related to RA and whether radiation exposure is associated with HTLV-1 and RA prevalence.This is a cross-sectional study among atomic bomb survivors who participated in biennial health examinations from 2006 to 2010. Serum levels of anti-HTLV-1 antibodies were measured using a chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay and confirmed by Western blotting. Association between HTLV-1 and RA was analyzed by a logistic regression model.Of 2091 participants (women 61.5%; median age, 73 years), 215 (10.3%) had anti-HTLV-1 antibodies. HTLV-1 prevalence was higher among women (13.1% vs 5.8%; P < .001). Twenty-two participants (1.1%) were diagnosed with RA. HTLV-1 prevalence among RA participants was significantly higher than that among non-RA participants (27.3% vs 10.1%; P = .020). After adjustment for age, sex, and hepatitis C virus infection, HTLV-1 was significantly associated with prevalent RA (odds ratio, 2.89; 95% confidence interval, 1.06, 7.03). There was no association between radiation dose and either the prevalence of HTLV-1 or RA.This study, among a well-defined group of atomic bomb survivors, suggests that HTLV-1 is associated with RA.
Keyphrases
- rheumatoid arthritis
- disease activity
- ankylosing spondylitis
- risk factors
- interstitial lung disease
- endothelial cells
- young adults
- healthcare
- systemic lupus erythematosus
- bone marrow
- acute myeloid leukemia
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- type diabetes
- metabolic syndrome
- skeletal muscle
- pregnant women
- induced pluripotent stem cells
- risk assessment
- social media
- climate change
- human health
- quantum dots
- health promotion