AIDS following mother-to-child transmission of HIV-2.
Mother-to-child infection with HIV-2 is thought to be rare, and there have been few previous reports of transmission by this route. Reports of morbidity associated with HIV-2 infection in children are also rare. We describe eight children born to mothers who were infected with HIV-2; five developed AIDS, and three were still seropositive at 17-49 months of age. The only apparent route of HIV-2 transmission was from mother to child, except for one child who had been transfused. Three of the children with AIDS died, all having decreased CD4+ lymphocytes and mitogen responses. Further studies are needed to determine the prevalence and natural history of mother-to-child transmission of HIV-2.
Morgan
G
G
Medical Research Council Laboratories, Gambia, West Africa.
Wilkins
H A
HA
Pepin
J
J
Jobe
O
O
Brewster
D
D
Whittle
H
H
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D015498:HIV-2; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology