HTLV-1 infection in the United States appears to be rare. Although little serologic data exist, the prevalence of infection is thought to be highest among blacks living in the Southeast. A prevalence rate of 30% has been found among black intravenous drug abusers in New Jersey, and a rate of 49% has been found in a similar group in New Orleans. It is possible that the prevalence of infection is increasing in this risk group. Studies of HTLV-1 antibody indicate that the virus is endemic in southern Japan, in the Caribbean, South America, and in Africa.<unk>  is relatively uncommon among those infected with HTLV-1. The overall incidence of<unk>  is estimated at about 1 per 1,500<unk>  HTLV-1 carriers per year. Those cases that have been reported have occurred mostly among persons from the Caribbean or blacks from the Southeast (National Institutes of Health, unpublished data). There appears to be a long latent period between HTLV-1 infection and the start of<unk> .
Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma
T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma
Thymoma with immunodeficiency
Atypical chronic myeloid leukemia
AIDS-related lymphoma
Aggressive NK-cell leukemia
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia