title: Vertical transmission of HIV-1 infection. Diagnosis and prevention.
abstract: With an increase in the number of women of childbearing age being infected with HIV-1, the incidence of pediatric AIDS is rising precipitously. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the risks and the potential preventive methods that may be effective in decreasing the transmission from mother to child, i.e., vertical transmission. Administration of zidovudine has been demonstrated to significantly lower the rate of vertical transmission. Passive and active vaccination may also be useful in diminishing the transmission rate. Likewise, methods which provide a rapid and predictive measurement of the likelihood of vertical transmission, such as qualitative and quantitative differences in anti-HIV-1 maternal antibodies between transmitters and nontransmitters, have potential clinical utility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Ugen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D014611:Vaccination; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015215:Zidovudine