title: Early diagnosis of HIV infection in infants by detection of IgA HIV antibodies.
abstract: With the aim of achieving earlier diagnosis of human, immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in infants, IgA and IgM HIV antibodies in serum samples from babies born to seropositive mothers were assayed by immunoblot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay after removal of IgG with recombinant protein G. 64 samples were from 38 HIV-infected babies with Centers for Disease Control classifications of P1 or P2. Among these infected children IgA HIV antibodies were present in all 23 samples from those older than 12 months, in 12 of 18 samples from babies aged 6-12 months, in 5 of 10 samples from babies aged 3-5 months, and in 2 of 13 from babies under 3 months old. The 6 IgA-negative samples from infants over 6 months were all from infants with severe AIDS and/or hypogammaglobulinaemia. IgA HIV antibodies were present in twice as many samples as IgM HIV antibodies (66% vs 33%). No IgM or IgA HIV antibodies were detected in infants who subsequently seroreverted or in infants born to seronegative mothers. The correlation of the serological results with clinical information on each child suggests that detection of IgA HIV antibodies is an effective method for early diagnosis of HIV-infected infants without signs of infection.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, State Laboratory Institute, Boston.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Weiblen
authors.forename: F K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Landesman
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McIntosh
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nesheim
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mendez
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Pelton
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Nahmias
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D000367:Age Factors; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D015686:Gene Products, env; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D007223:Infant; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C029152:G-substrate; D015686:Gene Products, env; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D019302:HIV Envelope Protein gp160; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins