PURPOSE OF THE STUDY AND MATERIAL: A search for sicca syndrome was performed in 54 HTLV 1 positive patients. Cases of sicca syndrome due to associated pathologies, or iatrogenic, were eliminated from this study.
Lacrimal hyposecretion was found in 79% of the cases. Defective lacrimal quality was found in 86% of patients and a variable intensity coloration with the Fluorescine and/or with Rose Bengale was positive in 83% of cases. Histological study of the conjunctival print showed ocular dryness in 65% of the patients. Biopsy of the labial minor salivary glands showed a Gougerot-Sjögren syndrome in 71% of the cases.
In our study, a sicca syndrome with varied gravity was found in 78% of cases.