Absence of maternal-fetal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 to second-trimester fetuses.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of in utero infection to the vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 during the second trimester.


METHODS
We examined fetal tissues from 21 second-trimester prostaglandin-induced abortions among human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected women and compared the fetal vertical transmission rates with those among children born to human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive women. The presence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 nucleic acid sequences was investigated with two different highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction techniques in tissue samples from the fetal thymus, lung, and brain.


RESULTS
No human immunodeficiency virus type 1 deoxyribonucleic acid was detected in any of the samples.


CONCLUSIONS
The absence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in all fetuses in our study is compatible with a low rate of maternal-fetal transmission during the second trimester of pregnancy.
Pascual
A
A
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hospital de Móstoles, Madrid, Spain.
Bruna
I
I
Cerrolaza
J
J
Moreno
P
P
Ramos
J T
JT
Noriega
A R
AR
Delgado
R
R
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D012367:RNA, Viral; D015215:Zidovudine