Giuseppe
Emeritus
[Source: Eurosurveillance, full text: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
Eurosurveillance, Volume 16, Issue 46, 17 November 2011
Surveillance and outbreak reports
Recruiting individuals into the HTLV cohort study in the United Kingdom: clinical findings and challenges in the first six years, 2003 to 2009
L J Brant<SUP>1</SUP><SUP>,2</SUP>, C Cawley<SUP>1</SUP><SUP>,2</SUP>, K L Davison (
)<SUP>1</SUP><SUP>,2</SUP>, G P Taylor<SUP>3</SUP>, the HTLV National Register Steering Group<SUP>4</SUP>
Citation style for this article: Brant LJ, Cawley C, Davison KL, Taylor GP, the HTLV National Register Steering Group. Recruiting individuals into the HTLV cohort study in the United Kingdom: clinical findings and challenges in the first six years, 2003 to 2009. Euro Surveill. 2011;16(46)
ii=20017. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=20017
Date of submission: 21 February 2011 <HR>Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) infection is rare in the United Kingdom (UK) and few studies are available worldwide. Following introduction of blood donation testing in 2002, a cohort of individuals could be identified and prospectively recruited to describe progression and onset of disease. Here we describe baseline characteristics of participants, and evaluate recruitment into the UK HTLV National Register over the first six years, from July 2003 to June 2009. A multicentre cohort study recruited participants from the UK blood services (recipients and donors) and specialist HTLV clinics. Almost half of the 148 participants recruited were blood donors, nine were blood transfusion recipients, 40 contacts and 29 clinic attendees (nine asymptomatic and 20 symptomatic). Most participants were HTLV-1 positive (n=115); 11 had HTLV-2 and 22 were HTLV-negative. Baseline self-completion questionnaires were received for 83%. The most commonly reported condition was a past operation/serious illness (69%). Twenty-six participants reported four or more possible signs/symptoms of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis. Recruitment into a study of a rare, long-term infection is challenging. This cohort will enable descriptions of HTLV-associated disease progression amongst people recruited from varying sources; it is the first prospective study of its kind in Europe.
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Eurosurveillance, Volume 16, Issue 46, 17 November 2011
Surveillance and outbreak reports
Recruiting individuals into the HTLV cohort study in the United Kingdom: clinical findings and challenges in the first six years, 2003 to 2009
L J Brant<SUP>1</SUP><SUP>,2</SUP>, C Cawley<SUP>1</SUP><SUP>,2</SUP>, K L Davison (
- Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, Immunisation Hepatitis and Blood Safety Department, London, United Kingdom
- National Health Service Blood and Transplant, London, United Kingdom
- Imperial College, Communicable Diseases, London, United Kingdom
- The members of the group are listed at the end of the article
Citation style for this article: Brant LJ, Cawley C, Davison KL, Taylor GP, the HTLV National Register Steering Group. Recruiting individuals into the HTLV cohort study in the United Kingdom: clinical findings and challenges in the first six years, 2003 to 2009. Euro Surveill. 2011;16(46)
ii=20017. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=20017 Date of submission: 21 February 2011 <HR>Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) infection is rare in the United Kingdom (UK) and few studies are available worldwide. Following introduction of blood donation testing in 2002, a cohort of individuals could be identified and prospectively recruited to describe progression and onset of disease. Here we describe baseline characteristics of participants, and evaluate recruitment into the UK HTLV National Register over the first six years, from July 2003 to June 2009. A multicentre cohort study recruited participants from the UK blood services (recipients and donors) and specialist HTLV clinics. Almost half of the 148 participants recruited were blood donors, nine were blood transfusion recipients, 40 contacts and 29 clinic attendees (nine asymptomatic and 20 symptomatic). Most participants were HTLV-1 positive (n=115); 11 had HTLV-2 and 22 were HTLV-negative. Baseline self-completion questionnaires were received for 83%. The most commonly reported condition was a past operation/serious illness (69%). Twenty-six participants reported four or more possible signs/symptoms of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis. Recruitment into a study of a rare, long-term infection is challenging. This cohort will enable descriptions of HTLV-associated disease progression amongst people recruited from varying sources; it is the first prospective study of its kind in Europe.