Maternal Virus Load and Perinatal Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Subtype E Transmission, Thailand
Open Access
- 1 March 1999
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in The Journal of Infectious Diseases
- Vol. 179 (3), 590-599
- https://doi.org/10.1086/314641
Abstract
To determine the rate and risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 subtype E perinatal transmission, with focus on virus load, pregnant HIV-infected women and their formula-fed infants were followed prospectively in Bangkok. Of 281 infants with known outcome, 68 were infected (transmission rate, 24.2%; 95% confidence interval, 19.3%–29.6%). Transmitting mothers had a 4.3-fold higher median plasma HIV RNA level at delivery than did nontransmitters (P <.001). No transmission occurred at 10,000 copies/mL. Although risk is multi-factorial, high maternal virus load at delivery strongly predicts transmission. This may have important implications for interventions designed to reduce perinatal transmission.Keywords
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