EVOLUTION OF IMMUNOLOGICAL ABNORMALITIES IN HIV-INFECTION BY VERTICALTRANSMISSION

Forty-four children infected through vertical transmission, from a tot al of 146 born to HIV-positive mothers, were studied. Immunological da ta were analysed and compared with those of the noninfected children. Two transmission patterns emerge from the clinical and immunological c haracteristics: (i) infants infected during pregnancy with severe immu nodeficiency and clinical manifestations before the age of 1 year, and (ii) children probably infected perinatally, who have better clinical outcome. Immunological data are important for prognosis and early the rapeutic protocols to be established.