Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Infected Cells in Breast Milk: Association with Immunosuppression and Vitamin A Deficiency

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Abstract
Breast milk samples from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-seropositive women were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction to determine the prevalence and determinants of HIV-1-infected cells in breast milk. Breast milk samples (212) were collected from 107 women, and 58% of the samples had detectable HIV-1 DNA. The proportion of HIV-1-infected cells in the milk samples ranged from 1 to 3255/104 cells. Breast milk samples with detectable HIV-1 DNA were more likely to be from women with absolute CD4 cell counts of 3 (95% CI, 2.1–188.5). Women with CD4 cell depletion, especially those with vitamin A deficiency, may be at increased risk of transmitting HIV-1 to their infants through breast milk.