title: Immunity to measles in pregnant mothers and in cord blood of their infants: impact of HIV status and mother's place of birth.
abstract: Antibody levels to measles were evaluated in 16 HIV-seropositive and 34 seronegative pregnant women and in cord blood samples of their infants. Infants were followed prospectively, and a second blood sample was taken at 3-7 months of age. Antibody levels were significantly lower in HIV-seropositive pregnant women and HIV-exposed cord bloods at birth (p=0.01 and 0.04, respectively) compared to controls. The prevalence of protective immunity (> or =1.09 optical density ratio) was also significantly lower (p=0.02) in HIV-seropositive pregnant women. T-cell counts were lower in HIV-seropositive women who were nonimmune (268/mm3) to measles compared to those who were immune (618/mm3), but the difference did not reach significance (p=0.07). Immunity to measles declined significantly to nonprotective levels in all infant samples obtained at 3-7 months of age. A secondary analysis determined the impact of mother's place of birth. Antibody levels were significantly higher (p=0.03) in foreign-born HIV-seronegative pregnant women and cord blood samples (p=0.01) compared to U.S.-born HIV-seronegative pregnant women seen in our inner-city clinic. Thus, HIV-seropositive and even some seronegative U.S.-born women may need a booster vaccine to ensure passage of adequate levels of passive immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, USA. schoudhury@mmc.edu
authors.forename: Shahana A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Choudhury
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hatcher
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Berthaud
authors.forename: Gwinnett
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ladson
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hills
authors.forename: Amie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Humphrey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008457:Measles / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral