COINFECTION WITH HERPESVIRUSES IN YOUNG-CHILDREN OF HIV-INFECTED WOMEN

Coinfection with herpesviruses in young children born to human immunod eficiency virus (HIV)-infected women was studied with blood samples fr om children who were 9-12 months and 15-24 months of age. Three groups of children were included: (I) HIV-uninfected, asymptomatic (HIV-); ( II) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and/or culture-positive and asympt omatic or mildly symptomatic (HIV+ asymptomatic); and (III) PCR and/or culture-positive and symptomatic (HIV+ symptomatic). Significantly mo re of the HIV+ symptomatic patients had cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody than the HIV patients. In addition, CMV antibody levels were signific antly higher in the HIV+ symptomatic patients than in either of the ot her two groups. Human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) antibody titers were signi ficantly different among the three groups of patients; however, no pai rwise comparisons were significant. No differences were found for HHV- 6 or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibody frequencies or titers. These fi ndings suggest that infection with CMV is a cofactor or an opportunist ic infection causing symptomatic HIV infections in young children.