[Clinical and laboratory evolution of children born to HIV positive mothers].
The vertical transmission of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) has become the main target of prophylactic Zidovudina (AZT) therapy during gestation, parturition as well as for the newborn.


BACKGROUND
To characterize the clinical and laboratory evolution of HIV exposed children.


METHODS
Prospective study of 64 HIV exposed children, classified into two groups. Group A, made up of 23 pairs of mothers and newborns, who did not receive AZT; Group B, made up of 41 pairs, who received AZT at some stage of prophylaxis.


RESULTS
The average maternal age was 26.8 years, the use of illicit drugs occurred in 17.2% of the pregnant women, twenty (31.3%) of the women had diseases. Between the groups there were no significant differences related to prenatal frequency of maternal illnesses, birth body dimensions and growth sequence. Both study groups presented with similar lymphocyte and blood counts. On the average, seroreversion took place at 16 months. Vertical transmission occurred in 6 children (9.3%), none of the children in the subgroup who received prophylaxis during all phases were infected.


CONCLUSIONS
The prophylactic therapy with AZT during all the periods recommended and the long term follow-up of the HIV exposed children constitute one of the best strategies for prevention of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in infants.
Yoshimoto
Cristina Erico
CE
Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatal, Instituto da Criança, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP.
Diniz
Edna Maria de Albuquerque
EM
Vaz
Flávio Adolfo Costa
FA
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D015215:Zidovudine