1st International AIDS Conference Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. - April 14-17, 1985

Int Conf AIDS 1985 Apr 14-17; 1:21 (abstract no. S2B)

Gwendolyn B Scott, M Fischl, N Klimas, M Fletcher, G Dickinson and W Parks.
University of Miami, Florida.

Sixteen mothers of infants with AIDS or an AIDS related complex (ARC) were followed for evidence of clinical or immunological abnormalities. All but one mother were clinically well at the time of birth of their first child with AIDS. However, all mothers had immune dysfunction with inverted T-cell ratios (15/16) or marked elevation of serum immunoglobulins (14/16). Ten mothers developed AIDS or ARC during a 30 month period of observation. Six of 11 mothers developed clinical disease during a subsequent pregnancy. Complications during pregnancy included severe anorexia and weight loss greater than 5 Kg. in six, persistent herpesvirus infection in 3, disseminated tuberculosis in 1 and pneumocystis pneumonitis in 1. Two infants were delivered prematurely. Subsequent pregnancies in these women produced 8 affected sibships suggesting that mothers can be persistently infected. Five mothers however, delivered 6 infants who are clinically and immunologically normal, suggesting that infectivity can decrease. This data suggests that mothers are the likely source of infection in their infants, that infectivity can persist for a prolonged period and mothers them-selves are at risk for AIDS or ARC. Further, pregnancy itself may be deleterious to these mothers, although further studies are necessary for definitive recommendations.

850414
S2B

Copyright © 1985 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.