Risk for Perinatal HIV-1 Transmission According to Maternal Immunologic, Virologic, and Placental Factors

Michael E.St Louis, Munkolenkole Kamenga, Christopher Brown, Ann Marie Nelson, Tarande Manzila, Veronique Batter, Frieda Behets, Uwa Kabagabo, Robert W. Ryder, Margaret Oxtoby, Thomas C. Quinn, William L. Heyward

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

227 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective.—To evaluate how maternal and obstetric factors interact to influence mother-to-child human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission. Design.—Prospective, observational cohort study of children born to HIV-infected women to determine child’s HIV infection status. The analysis then compared peripartum maternal, placental, and obstetric variables between HIV-1 transmitter and nontransmitter women. Setting.—Two large maternity wards in Kinshasa, Zaire. Participants.—Consecutive sample of 324 HIV-1—infected women at delivery, with 254 HIV-seronegative women followed up as control subjects. Principal Outcome Measures.—HIV infection status of children, to classify each woman as an HIV-1 transmitter or nontransmitter. Results.—The highest transmission risk (TR) was associated with maternal p24 antigenemia (TR, 71%; relative risk [RR], 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7 to 5.2) and maternal CD8+ lymphocyte counts of at least 1.80×109/L (1800/μL) (TR, 50%; RR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.2). Among women with CD8+ lymphocyte counts of less than 1.80×109/L, CD4+ lymphocyte counts of less than 0.60×109/L were a risk factor (TR, 29%; RR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.2). In women with neither high CD8+ nor low CD4+ lymphocyte counts, placental membrane inflammation was associated with perinatal transmission (TR, 40%; RR, 4.2; 95% CI, 1.3 to 13.7). In women with neither p24 antigenemia, high CD8+ or low CD4+ lymphocyte counts, nor placental membrane inflammation, the transmission risk was only 7%. Additional correlates of transmission included maternal anemia and fever, but not maternal sexually transmitted diseases. Conclusions.—Identifiable subgroups of HIV-1—infected women based on maternal and placental characteristics had between a 7% and 71% risk of perinatal HIV-1 transmission. Not only the overall rate of transmission but the impact of different risk factors for transmission appear to vary over the course of HIV infection.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2853-2859
Number of pages7
JournalJAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association
Volume269
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 9 1993
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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