Case Report: Atypical Cutaneous Presentation of Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1-Related Adult T-cell Lymphoma

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus endemic in many parts of the world. Because of migration, cases of HTLV-1 in non-HTLV-1 endemic countries have been increasingly reported. Clinical presentation of HTLV-1 infection is highly variable, with a significant risk of diagnostic delays. Skin can be the first site affected by HTLV-1-related manifestations such as cutaneous involvement of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and infective dermatitis associated with HTLV-1. A 32-year-old Nigerian man was admitted to the infectious disease department for high fever, asthenia, lymphocytosis, and vesicular bullous lesions on both hand palms and lower limbs. After clinical work-up was performed, bacterial superinfected herpes simplex viurs-2 ulcers were the presenting sign of HTLV-1-related chronic type ATLL. Standard treatment based on interferon-α plus zidovudine was started, but it was poorly tolerated; therefore, switching to an off-label dual antiretroviral regimen was attempted. The increasing prevalence of HTLV-1 in nonendemic areas may enhance the development of alternative treatments with better efficacy and tolerability profiles.