Perinatal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 by pregnant women with RNA virus loads <1000 copies/ml

J Infect Dis. 2001 Feb 15;183(4):539-45. doi: 10.1086/318530. Epub 2001 Jan 12.

Abstract

In a collaboration of 7 European and United States prospective studies, 44 cases of vertical human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission were identified among 1202 women with RNA virus loads <1000 copies/mL at delivery or at the measurement closest to delivery. For mothers receiving antiretroviral treatment during pregnancy or at the time of delivery (or both), there was a 1.0% transmission rate (8 of 834; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.4%-1.9%), compared with 9.8% (36 of 368; 95% CI, 7.0%-13.4%) for untreated mothers (risk ratio, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.05-0.21). In multivariate analysis adjusting for study, transmission was lower with antiretroviral treatment (odds ratio [OR], 0.10; P<.001), cesarean section (OR, 0.30; P=.022), greater birth weight (P=.003), and higher CD4 cell count (P=.039). In 12 of 44 cases, multiple RNA measurements were obtained during pregnancy or at the time of delivery or within 4 months after giving birth; in 10 of the 12 cases, the geometric mean virus load was >500 copies/mL. Perinatal HIV-1 transmission occurs in only 1% of treated women with RNA virus loads <1000 copies/mL and may be almost eliminated with antiretroviral prophylaxis accompanied by suppression of maternal viremia.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Europe
  • Female
  • Gestational Age
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / transmission*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical*
  • International Cooperation
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / drug therapy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / virology*
  • Prospective Studies
  • RNA, Viral / blood*
  • Registries
  • Risk Factors
  • United States
  • Viral Load*
  • Viremia

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • RNA, Viral