Effects of disease stage and zidovudine therapy on the detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in semen

Article Abstract:

HIV-infected men who have low CD4 T-cell counts, advanced disease or white blood cells in their semen are more likely to have the virus in their semen and would be more likely to transmit the virus through sexual intercourse. Semen samples taken from 95 HIV-positive men were tested for the presence of HIV. The virus was found in nine samples. Men who had CD4 counts less than 200, who were in an advanced stage of the infection or who were not taking zidovudine (AZT) were more likely to have the virus in their semen. Those who had white blood cells in their semen (seminal leukocytosis) were also more likely to have the virus in their semen. However, a separate study of 14 of the men whose CD4 counts were above 200 found that six had one semen sample that was positive for HIV at some time over a period of several months. All HIV-infected men should consider themselves potentially infective.

Analysis, Semen

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T-helper 1-type immunity to trophoblast in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion

Article Abstract:

Unexplained recurring abortions (URA) in women may be linked to their peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) response to trophoblast antigens. The trophoblast is part of the placenta. Researchers took blood samples from 244 women between 26 and 40 years old who had a history of URA but were not pregnant. PBMCs of women with URA released T-helper 1-type cytokines following exposure to trophoblast antigens, while PBMCs in women with a history of normal pregnancies produced T-helper 2-type cytokines. T-helper 1-type cytokines usually boost cellular immunity, which is the part of the immune system that eliminates foreign cells. T-helper 2-type cytokines suppress this response to foreign cells. The T-helper 2 immune response may contribute to an established pregnancy. New immunological therapies could be developed that interfere with the production of T-helper 1-type cytokines.

Physiological aspects, Miscarriage, Trophoblast, Trophoblasts, Cellular immunity

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Identification of levels of maternal HIV-1 RNA associated with risk of perinatal transmission: effect of maternal zidovudine treatment on viral load

Article Abstract:

Measurement of HIV RNA in the blood of pregnant HIV-infected women at delivery may best predict the risk of transmitting the virus to the baby. Researchers measured HIV RNA in blood samples from 92 HIV-positive women through pregnancy and at delivery. Twenty of the 97 babies born became HIV-positive either in utero (12) or during birth (8). Women who did not transmit the virus had fewer than 100 copies of HIV RNA per milliliter (ml) up to 67,862 copies. Women who transmitted the virus had from 25,262 copies/ml up to 791,341 copies/ml. Probability analysis showed that more than 50% of the women with more than 50,000 copies/ml would infect their babies. Forty-two women took zidovudine during pregnancy. Zidovudine reduced HIV RNA levels from 4- to 10-fold. Nine percent of babies born to women on zidovudine became infected compared to 30% of babies born to untreated women.

HIV infections, Disease transmission, RNA, Pregnancy, HIV infection in pregnancy

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