QUANTITATIVE ANTI-P24 DETERMINATIONS CAN PREDICT THE RISK OF VERTICALTRANSMISSION

Quantitative serum antibody to p24 was evaluated as a predictor of ris k of vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV -1) infection. HIV-positive mothers, 13 with HIV-infected children and 24 with noninfected children were investigated during pregnancy and a t the time of delivery. A statistically significant difference in anti -p24 titers was found between the mothers with infected and those with noninfected children independent of whether antibodies were measured during pregnancy or at the time of delivery. High anti-p24 levels corr elated with a low risk of vertical transmission, whereas low anti-p24 titers were associated with an increased risk of vertical transmission . Although the number of CD4(+) T-cells was lower and neopterin and be ta-2 microglobulin values were higher in the group of mothers with inf ected children than in the noninfected group, no statistical significa nce was achieved due to the small sample size.