The exact cause of autoimmune diseases is unknown. However, some risk factors like viral infections may increase the chances of getting it. Recent studies have suggested a possible link between Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection and some autoimmune disorders. Understanding the association between HTLV-1 and autoimmune diseases is essential for developing targeted therapeutic interventions. This study aimed to investigate the seroepidemiology of HTLV-1 in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Serum samples from 75 patients with SLE and 75 healthy controls were collected for this cross-sectional study. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or ELISA (Dia.Pro, Italy kit), a widely used serological test, was used to detect the presence of HTLV-1 antibodies in the samples. Only one out of the 75 samples from the RA patients showed positivity for HTLV-1, while none of the healthy control samples exhibited the presence of HTLV-1 antibodies. Despite the limited number of HTLV-1-positive samples, these findings suggest a possible association between HTLV-1 infection and the development of SLE. Future prospective studies with larger sample sizes and longitudinal follow-up are warranted to establish causality and assess the impact of HTLV-1 on disease progression.
