Perinatal Infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Abstract

INFANTS born to mothers infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at risk for exposure to HIV in utero, during delivery, and after birth in breast milk or through other close contact.^{1 2 3 4} The diagnosis of HIV infection in the offspring of an infected mother may be difficult. Mothers infected with HIV produce IgG antibodies; these are transferred to the fetus transplacentally, and cord blood is thus positive for antibody when tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or Western blot techniques. Because of their physiologically depressed immune response, newborns generally produce a less vigorous and more limited antibody response to . . .