Human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection in neonates: correlation of plasma and cellular viremia and clinical outcome

• Published in: Acta Paediatrica 1997-06, Vol.86 (S421), p.17-21
• Main Authors: Rouzioux, C., Burgard, M., Chaix, M-L, Delamare, C., Ivanoff, S., Bouiller, B., Cateloy, S., Allemon, M-C, Broyart, C., Ciraru, N., Floch, C., Lelorier, P., Lachassine, E., Mazy, F., Narcy, P., Saillant, J., Salomon, JL, Seaume, H., Talon, P., Mayaux, M-J, Blanche, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Age; antiretroviral therapy; Birth; Cell culture; Cellular and plasma viremia; Children; clinical outcome; HIV-1-infected neonates; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Immunodeficiency; Infants; Infection; Neonates; viral load; Viremia
• ISSN: 0803-5253; 1651-2227
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1997.tb18314.x

Among human immunodeficiency virus‐1 (HIV‐1) vertically infected children, two patterns of disease progression have been observed: about 25% develop a severe immunodeficiency within the first 2 years of life; the rest experience a slower progression, like adults. We have assessed infectious viral burden in infected neonates through the French National Prospective Study. Plasma and cell‐associated viremia were assayed by endpoint‐dilution cultures in samples from 46 infants followed prospectively from birth. Plasma and cell‐associated viral burden were found to be significantly higher in rapid progressing infants than in non‐progressing infants in the first months of life: before the age of 2 months, between 2 and 4 months of age and by the age of 6 months. Moreover, among the non‐progressing children, the infectious viral burden before the age of 4 months was predictive of the viral burden measured after the age of 12 months. In conclusion, this work demonstrates that infectious viral load is a reliable predictive marker for rapid progression to AIDS in infants and could be useful for initiating antiretroviral therapy.