Vertical HIV-1 transmission correlates with a high maternal viral load at delivery
Article Abstract:
High blood levels of HIV-1 in pregnant women at delivery appears to be the greatest risk factor for transmitting the virus to the newborn infant. Researchers took blood samples taken from 67 pregnant women at delivery and tested the samples for HIV-1 RNA and the viral antigen p24. The 69 infants were followed up to the age of 18 months. The transmission rate in the group was 25%. Women with high viral RNA counts and low CD4 counts were more likely to transmit the virus. High viral counts are probably the most important risk factor, since zidovudine can reduce the transmission rate.
Publication Name: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 1077-9450
Year: 1997
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Effect of pregnancy and zidovudine therapy on viral load in HIV-1-infected women
Article Abstract:
Zidovudine does not appear to lower blood levels of virus in pregnant HIV-infected women. Researchers took periodic blood samples from 44 HIV-positive pregnant women, 27 of whom took zidovudine during their pregnancy. The amount of virus in these blood samples was low and remained so throughout the pregnancy. Zidovudine did not significantly reduce viral levels. Twelve percent of the untreated women transmitted the virus to their infant, compared to 4% of those who took zidovudine. Zidovudine may prevent the virus from reproducing rather than reducing viral blood levels.
Publication Name: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 1077-9450
Year: 1997
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HIV infection of the central nervous system is characterized by rapid turnover of viral RNA in cerebrospinal fluid
Article Abstract:
Examination of the mechanics of viral replication and viral decay in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) seems to indicate that viral decay goes on at the same rate of decay as that which is seen in plasma. The HIV RNA concentrations were measured in 15 HIV positive patients, matching samples of CSF with samples or plasma/serum. These were taken before beginning highly-active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and then again between five and 24 days after therapy had begun. In two of the patients, the HAART was interrupted in order to see what effect that might have.
Publication Name: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 1077-9450
Year: 1999
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