RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF CHILDREN BORN TO HIV-1-INFECTED MOTHERS IN A PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL IN ARGENTINA

The aim of this retrospective study, which included 103 children born to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected mothers, is to initiate a database on HIV-infected children, which has to date been unavailable in Argentina. All HIV-1 seropositive children admitted to the Pedro de Elizalde Children's Hospital in Buenos Aires from March 1 , 1987, to December 31, 1992, were enrolled in this study. The number of patients enrolled dramatically increased each year during the perio d of study. Of the 60 infected children, 22 (36.66%) have died with a clinical diagnosis of HIV-1 infection; in 10 of those children HIV inf ection was also confirmed by P24 antigenemia and/or polymerase chain r eaction (PCR): 20 qualified for the Centers for Disease Control and Pr evention (CDC) P2D class (P2D1 = 7, P2D2 = 10, P2D3 = 3), 1 for P2C, a nd 1 for P(2)A, whose cause of death was pneumonia. The mean age of de ath was 14.8 months, 18 (82%) died before 18 months. When immunoglobul in G (IgG), IgM, and IgA levels were determined according to age and c linical status, significant differences (P < 0.005) were observed when both asymptomatic and symptomatic infected children (P-1, P-2) were c ompared with noninfected children (P-3). A significant difference was also obtained between those children who qualified for P-2 classificat ion prior to 12 months of age who died early (at or prior to 25 months ) and those who reached stage P-2 after 12 months of age and have surv ived to date (X(2) = 24.73, p < 0.0001; RR = 5.83, 2.52 < RR < 13.49).