title: Unrecognized human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in a cohort of transfused neonates: a retrospective investigation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To retrospectively identify unrecognized human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection among a cohort of children transfused as neonates before donated blood was routinely screened for HIV-1 antibody.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records at a large, private, metropolitan hospital were reviewed to identify children who were transfused as neonates between January 1980 and March 1985 and discharged alive from the hospital. Multiple data sources were used to locate these children. Parents or guardians were contacted, and their children were offered HIV-1 antibody testing and physical examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 775 children identified as having received transfusions during the project period, 644 (83%) were located, and 443 (69%) were evaluated for HIV-1 infection. Among those evaluated, 33 (7%) had antibody to HIV-1, including 14 whose infections had not been previously diagnosed. At the time of enrollment, 13 children infected with HIV-1 were asymptomatic an average of 63 months after transfusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HIV-1 antibody testing should be considered for all children, regardless of clinical status, who were transfused before routine blood donor screening was implemented in March 1985, particularly in areas with a high incidence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome during those years.
authors.affiliation: Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, CA 90005, USA.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Lieb
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Mundy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldfinger
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Pepkowitz
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Brunell
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Caldwell
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies