Does Severity of HIV Disease in HIV-Infected Mothers Affect Mortality and Morbidity among Their Uninfected Infants?

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Background. Rates of perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission are higher among HIV-infected mothers with more advanced disease, but effects of maternal disease on HIV-uninfected offspring are unclear. We investigated the hypothesis that the severity of HIV disease and immune dysfunction among mothers is associated with increased morbidity and mortality among their uninfected infants. Methods. In a birth cohort of 620 HIV-uninfected infants born to HIV-infected mothers in Lusaka, Zambia, we investigated associations between markers of more advanced maternal HIV disease and child mortality, hospital admissions, and infant weight through 4 months of age. Results. Mortality in the cohort of uninfected infants was 4.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8–6.3) through 4 months of age. Infants of mothers with CD4+ T cell counts of 100,000 copies/mL was associated with significantly lower child weight through 4 months of age. Conclusion. Children born to HIV-infected mothers with advanced disease who escaped perinatal or early breastfeeding-related HIV infection are nonetheless at high risk of mortality and morbidity during the first few months of life. HIV-related immunosuppression appears to have adverse consequences for the health of infants, in addition to risks of vertical transmission.

This publication has 40 references indexed in Scilit: