REPEATEDLY POSITIVE HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 DNA-POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION IN HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-EXPOSED SEROREVERTINGINFANTS

Three human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-exposed children who had repeatedly positive DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for HIV in greater than or equal to 5 samples before seroreversion to HIV -negative status are reported. The children belong to a cohort of 210 infants who were born to HIV-infected mothers and were tested at inter vals of 1 to 3 months by HIV viral culture, PCR, and p24 antigen; only the PCR was positive in greater than or equal to 5 samples in the chi ldren reported here. Their clinical features were indistinguishable fr om other seroreverters. Ah three children had a transient drop in CD4: CD8 ratio to <1.0. The transiently positive DNA PCR in HIV-exposed inf ants may indicate either that HIV infection was eliminated by a strong host immune response or that infection was caused by an attenuated/de fective strain of virus.