NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODIES IN MATERNO-FETAL TRANSMISSION OF HIV-1

The goal of this study is to compare serum Titers of Neutralizing anti bodies in HIV 1 infected mothers to the virological status of their ne wborns. 38 infant-mothers couples were tested. Serum Neutralizing anti bodies Titers of the mothers were tested the day of birth. Virological status of new borns was. determinated by peripheric blood mononuclear cells culture and PCR. 18 Newborns were HIV 1 infected. In 9 cases mo thers had no neutralizing antibodies : 7 newborns were HIV 1 infected. In 4 cases mothers had high level of neutrilizing antibodies (< 640) : none of the newborns was infected. In 25 cases mothers had intermedi ate value of neutralizing antibodies (between 80 and 320) : 11 newborn s were HIV 1 infected. Women with neutralizing antibodies to HIV 1, we re less likely to transmit HIV 1 to their infants thon pregnant women without neutralizing antibodies. Serum neutralizing antibodies titers of pregnant women might be of predictive value in vertical transmissio n of HIV 1. Further investigations are needed.