Objective: To determine whether human T cell lymphotrophic virus (HTLV) infection is associated with remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) syndrome.
Methods: Three patients presenting with RS3PE syndrome and 7 controls were examined for the presence of HTLV crossreactive antigens.
Results: Our patients were elderly men who presented with typical symptoms of abrupt onset of synovitis of the wrist, carpal joints, metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal, distal interphalangeal joints, and flexor tendons, associated with remarkable pitting edema of the hands. Transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemical analysis for HTLV-1 P19 and P20 related antigens failed to detect retroviral presence in the sample specimens or controls.
Conclusion: Our investigation suggests there is no evidence for HTLV synovial infection associated with RS3PE.