Possible viral etiology of childhood acute lymphosarcoma-cell leukaemia in Kenya.

Abstract

Childhood acute lymphosarcoma-cell leukaemia (CALSCL) accounts for 13-14% of all childhood leukaemias in Kenya. It occurs in temporal clusters in children aged 5-9 years, and an environmental leukaemogenic factor is therefore suspected. A study of children with acute leukaemia was carried out, and suggested that CALSCL is a specific clinical entity amongst the acute lymphocytic leukaemias. Whether human T-cell leukaemia virus (HTLV) may play a role in its etiology remains to be determined