Rate of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection from mother to child and short-term outcome of neonatal infection. Results of a prospective cohort study.
In an attempt to determine the rate of transmission of infection from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) antibody-positive women to their offspring and to describe the short-term outcome of perinatal infection, we enrolled 62 infants in a prospective cohort study during a 30-month period and followed them up for an additional 6 months. The clinical, immunologic, and serologic status of the children was assessed prospectively. Fourteen subjects were symptomatic: 3 had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, 5 had signs and symptoms that were compatible with HIV-1 infection (Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Ga, class P2A), and 6 had ill-defined symptoms that could not be definitely attributed to HIV. Our data indicated that the maximum rate of vertical transmission of HIV-1 infection in New Haven, Conn, was less than 30%, and the rate of HIV-1-associated disease occurring during the first 3 years of life was 16%. The mean and median time to loss of maternal antibody, as detected by Western blot in seroreverters, was approximately 7 months, and the half-life of passive antibody was 38 days. A continued close follow-up of children in the cohort studied, and others like it, is critical to learn the full range of outcomes of HIV infection in the pediatric population.
Andiman
W A
WA
Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510.
Simpson
B J
BJ
Olson
B
B
Dember
L
L
Silva
T J
TJ
Miller
G
G
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000097:blood; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000097:blood; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D015497:HIV-1; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D011379:Prognosis; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000097:blood
D015683:Gene Products, gag; D015488:HIV Antigens; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D014758:Viral Core Proteins