title: Immunologic and virologic evaluation of HIV-1-infected children after rabies vaccination.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One-third of Thai children experience a dog bite by the time they are 15 years old, and HIV-1 infection in children is also not uncommon. Previous study has shown that rabies vaccination of HIV-1-infected children may not result in a satisfactory antibody response when CD4+ T cells are less than 15%. The objective of this prospective clinical study is to evaluate the immunologic response and effect on viral load after rabies vaccination in HIV-infected children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen HIV-1-infected children were vaccinated with the intramuscular rabies pre-exposure regimen using human diploid cell rabies vaccine (HDCV) on days 0, 7 and 28. CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte counts were performed on days 0, 7 and 28. Plasma viral loads were determined on days 0, 7, 14, 60, 90, 180 and 360.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant change in serial measurements of CD4+/CD8+ lymphocytes during a period of 1 month and in plasma viral load during 1 year. There was no associated clinical deterioration or any adverse reactions attributable to vaccine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rabies vaccination in HIV-1-infected children appears to be safe but did not significantly change the levels of plasma HIV RNA, CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, 10330, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Thisyakorn
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pancharoen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wilde
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012449:Safety; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D011819:Rabies Vaccines