title: Features of children perinatally infected with HIV-1 surviving longer than 5 years. Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children.
abstract: Children infected with HIV do not necessarily develop AIDS to a set pattern but can be divided into long-term and short-term survivors. We examined long-term survival in children perinatally infected with HIV-1. Out of a total of 624, we studied 182 children who survived longer than 5 years (long-term survivors [LTS]) and 120 children who died of HIV-1-related disease before 5 years (defined as short-term survivors [STS]). 28 (15%) LTS were symptomless (Centers for Disease Control [CDC] P-1 children). 154 (85%) had symptoms (CDC P-2). The proportion of LTS with less than 0.2 x 10(9)/CD4 cells per L was 24/116 (21%) at 61-72 months, rising to 11/26 (41%) at more than 96 months. On at least one occasion, p24 antigenaemia was observed in 112 (62%) LTS. Annual rate of CD4 cell loss was lower in LTS (25% [95% CI: 21-29]) than in STS (53% [45-60]) and in LTS symptomless or with solitary P-2A signs (17%; [13-21]) than in LTS with severe manifestations (30% [25-35]). A new outlook emerges. A substantial number of children do survive after early childhood; severe diseases; low CD4 cell numbers, and p24 antigenaemia do not necessarily preclude long-term survival. The study shows that a CD4 cell decrease early in life can be predictive of outcome.
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D015215:Zidovudine