Pregnancy in a cohort of long-term partners of human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive hemophiliacs

Article Abstract:

Studies have shown that pregnant women who have an infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the virus that causes AIDS) may transmit the virus to the fetus. One study reported that six out of 24 babies born to mothers infected with HIV tested positive for HIV at birth. The outcome for babies with HIV infection is not good. A study involving 64 infected infants reported that 64 percent of the infants had HIV disease by three months of age, and 30 percent developed AIDS within six months. Few studies have examined the risk of perinatal transmission of the HIV virus by women who do not have HIV infection themselves, but are long-term sexual partners of hemophilic men who do have the infection. Many of these women are told that they should delay becoming pregnant until the risk of transmitting HIV to the fetus is better understood. This article discusses the results of a study designed to determine the risk of transmitting HIV infection to an infant by a woman who is HIV negative, but whose (long-term) partner has both hemophilia and HIV infection. The outcomes of 16 pregnancies in 12 women without HIV infection were monitored. Fourteen of these pregnancies resulted in live births. None of the infants were HIV-positive at birth. As of the study, the children ranged in age from seven months to seven years, and all had remained free of HIV infection and were healthy. One woman was diagnosed as HIV-positive at eight weeks of pregnancy and gave birth to an HIV-infected baby. The results of this study indicate that women who are HIV-negative yet have sexual partners who are HIV-positive can become pregnant and expect to have a baby who is not infected with the virus. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Infection, Fetus, Diseases, Infants (Newborn), Disease transmission, Pregnancy, AIDS (Disease), Neonatal diseases, AIDS (Disease) in pregnancy

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Absence of intact nef sequences in a long-term survivor with nonprogressive HIV-1 infection

Article Abstract:

Defective nef gene sequences may explain the lack of progression of HIV-1 in some infected patients whose CD4+ lymphocyte counts remain near normal. A lack of the nef gene sequence in monkeys with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) appears to prevent the onset of AIDS, and is considered to be a sign of a defective strain of SIV. Of five long-term survivors of HIV-1 infection with normal or near-normal CD4+ lymphocyte concentrations, the DNA of one was shown to have a defective nef strain. The same defective strain was located in blood samples from the patient taken over ten years and no sign of progressive HIV infection was found. The patients with non-defective nef strains showed some signs of progressive infection over time.

Development and progression, Genetic aspects, HIV patients

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Zidovudine, didanosine, or both as the initial treatment for symptomatic HIV-infected children

Article Abstract:

Didanosine appears to be as effective as zidovudine in the treatment of HIV-infected children. Researchers randomly assigned 831 children to take zidovudine alone, didanosine alone or a combination of both drugs. The children were between the ages of 3 months and 18 years. After an average follow-up of two years, the children taking zidovudine alone had a higher risk of disease progression or death compared to the other two groups. Children taking didanosine alone had similar outcomes to those taking both drugs. Didanosine alone had fewer side effects.

Evaluation, Drug therapy, HIV infection in children, Pediatric HIV infections, Zidovudine, Drug therapy, Combination, Combination drug therapy, Didanosine

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