Patterns and Predictors of CD4 T-cell Counts Among Children Born to HIV-infected Women in Tanzania

• Published in: Journal of tropical pediatrics (1980) 2009-10, Vol.55 (5), p.290-296
• Main Authors: Kupka, Roland, Msamanga, Gernard I., Aboud, Said, Manji, Karim P., Duggan, Christopher, Fawzi, Wafaie W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Cohort Studies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; General aspects; HIV Infections - diagnosis; HIV Infections - immunology; HIV Infections - transmission; HIV-1; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Mothers; Multivariate Analysis; Original Papers; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - immunology; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - virology; Risk Factors; Tanzania - epidemiology; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids
• ISSN: 0142-6338; 1465-3664
• DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmn118

We assessed age-specific CD4 T-cell counts and their determinants among Tanzanian children born to HIV-infected mothers to address a major research gap. A total of 474 HIV-uninfected and 69 HIV-infected children were followed until age of 12 months. Maternal predictors were measured during pregnancy and child predictors at birth and throughout the follow up. Child CD4 T-cell counts were evaluated at the age of 3 months and subsequent 3-month intervals; they decreased linearly among HIV-infected (β = –8 cells per week; 95% CI –12 to –4; P = 0.0003) and increased linearly among HIV-uninfected children (β = 4 cells/week; 95% CI 2–7; P = 0.0008). Decreased child counts were predicted by low child anthropometry, maternal HIV stage ≥2, and maternal mid-upper arm circumference