Repeatedly positive human immunodeficiency virus type 1 DNA polymerase chain reaction in human immunodeficiency virus-exposed seroreverting infants.
Three human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-exposed children who had repeatedly positive DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for HIV in > or = 5 samples before seroreversion to HIV-negative status are reported. The children belong to a cohort of 210 infants who were born to HIV-infected mothers and were tested at intervals of 1 to 3 months by HIV viral culture, PCR, and p24 antigen; only the PCR was positive in > or = 5 samples in the children reported here. Their clinical features were indistinguishable from other seroreverters. All three children had a transient drop in CD4:CD8 ratio to < 1.0. The transiently positive DNA PCR in HIV-exposed infants may indicate either that HIV infection was eliminated by a strong host immune response or that infection was caused by an attenuated/defective strain of virus.
Bakshi
S S
SS
Department of Pediatrics, North Shore University Hospital, Cornell University Medical College, Manhasset, NY, USA.
Tetali
S
S
Abrams
E J
EJ
Paul
M O
MO
Pahwa
S G
SG
D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000032:analysis; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous
D004279:DNA, Viral; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24