PLACENTAL-TRANSFER AND MATERNALLY ACQUIRED NEONATAL IGG IMMUNITY IN HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION

Transplacental transfer of specific IgG antibodies was studied in 46 p airs of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-seropositive women and their neonates and in 53 pairs of healthy HIV-seronegative mother s and their newborns, Neonatal and maternal sera were assessed by neph elometry for total levels of serum IgG and by ELISA for IgG antibodies to herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), measles virus, tetanus toroid, streptolysin O, and Streptococcus pneumoniae ca psular antigens. Placental transfer of IgG antibodies to VZV, tetanus toroid, measles, streptolysin O, and S. pneumoniae was decreased by ma ternal HIV infection, Maternal levels of total IgG had an independent effect on transfer of antibodies to HSV, VZV, measles, and S. pneumoni ae. Neonatal antibody levels to tetanus toroid, measles, and S. pneumo niae were significantly lower in the HIV group, Both maternal hypergam maglobulinemia and maternal HIV infection may contribute to these low antibody levels at birth and thus lead to early infection in this high -risk population.