Mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission: quantitative assessment of viral burden as a diagnostic tool and prognostic parameter in HIV-1-infected children

Acta Paediatr Suppl. 1994 Aug:400:25-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1994.tb13329.x.

Abstract

Polymerase chain reaction was performed in 251 infants born to HIV-1-seropositive mothers to diagnose HIV-1 infection. Assay specificity was invariably > 95%, regardless of age at testing, while sensitivity ranged from 15% in neonates (within 48 h of birth) to > 95% in infants over 1 month of age. Evaluation of viral burden in 43 infected infants by means of quantitative DNA-PCR disclosed that the number of HIV-1 proviruses ranged from 5 to 947 per 100,000 peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Clinical follow-up demonstrated that a high viral burden was associated significantly with disease onset.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA, Viral / analysis*
  • Female
  • HIV Antibodies / blood
  • HIV Antigens / blood
  • HIV Core Protein p24 / blood
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / blood
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / transmission
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical*
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology
  • Mothers*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction*
  • Prognosis
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • HIV Antibodies
  • HIV Antigens
  • HIV Core Protein p24
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120