[Application of molecular amplification methods in the diagnosis and follow-up of HIV-1 infection in children infected by vertical transmission].
BACKGROUND
To describe the vertical transmission of HIV-1 by means of molecular methods.


METHODS
A prospective study between 1995 and 1998 of two groups of patients, A: 107 newborn infants to HIV-1 infected mothers, and B: 11 infants with clinical suspicion of HIV infection, born to mothers who didn't know being infected. DNA and RNA PCR as well as reverse transcriptase gen mutations were tested.


RESULTS
Eleven infected patients were identified, four from group A and seven from group B. Viral load at the moment of diagnosis was higher than 100,000 copies/ml in all patients. Genotypic mutations of the studied codons were not detected in ten patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Molecular amplification techniques are useful for early diagnosis and follow-up of HIV infection acquired by vertical transmission.
Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues, Barcelona. cma@hsjdbcn.org
C
C
Muñoz Almagro
C
C
Fortuny Guash
A
A
González-Cuevas
T
T
Juncosa Morros
T
T
García-Fructuoso
C
C
Latorre Otín
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019562:Viral Load
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents