title: Anemia and Red Blood Cell Abnormalities in HIV-Infected and HIV-Exposed Breastfed Infants: A Secondary Analysis of the Kisumu Breastfeeding Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anemia results in increased morbidity and mortality, underscoring the need to better understand its pathophysiology amongst HIV-exposed and infected children in sub-Saharan Africa, the region where most infant HIV exposure and infections occur.
  
  
  METHODS
  This analysis used samples obtained from children in the Kisumu Breastfeeding Study (KiBS). KiBS was a longitudinal phase IIB, open-label, one-arm clinical trial, designed to investigate the safety, tolerability and effectiveness of a maternal triple-antiretroviral (ARV) regimen for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, during late pregnancy and early infancy while breastfeeding. Blood samples from 482 children were obtained at birth, 2, 6, 10 and 14 weeks and 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months. Severity of anemia was graded using the NIH Division of AIDS (DAIDS) toxicity tables. We describe the proportion of children with anemia and anomalies in red blood cell parameters at various time points over 24 months and compare rates of anemia between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected children and by mothers' ARV regimen and infant malaria infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of children with anemia significantly increased after the breastfeeding period in both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected children with higher proportion among HIV-infected children compared to HIV-uninfected children (RR: 1.72; CI: 1.22-2.44, p = 0.002). Maternal triple-antiretroviral regimen was not associated with infant anemia (p = 0.11). There was no significant difference in mean hemoglobin between HIV-uninfected children with and without malaria at each time point except at 24 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A relatively lower proportion of children with severe anemia during the breastfeeding period suggest that exposure to mother's triple antiretroviral combinations through breast milk, posed minimal risk of hematologic toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: Collins
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Odhiambo
authors.affiliation: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: Clement
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zeh
authors.affiliation: Center for Poverty-related Communicable Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ondoa
authors.affiliation: Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Omolo
authors.affiliation: Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: Benta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Akoth
authors.affiliation: Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: Humphrey
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lwamba
authors.affiliation: Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lando
authors.affiliation: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.affiliation: Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Otieno
authors.affiliation: Family Health International, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Rose
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Masaba
authors.affiliation: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, CDC, Atlanta, GA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weidle
authors.affiliation: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kisumu, Kenya.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D004913:Erythrocytes, Abnormal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents