Dynamics of immunoglobulins production in infected children born to HIV-1 infected mothers: effect of zidovudine

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the possible effect of zidovudine (ZDV) on inmunogl obins production in infants born to HIV-1 infected women. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We have studied the immunoglobulins serum levels in 5 7 non-infected children born to HIV-infected mothers. The children were div ided into two groups: group A, 28 children born to HIV-1 infected mothers t hat received ZDV on protocol 076 conditions, and group B, 29 children born to mothers that did not receive anti-HIV-1 drugs. Quantification of serum I gG, IgA and IgM was performed by nephelometric techniques. RESULTS: The median time to reach normal IgA values at 12 months, was 25,57 months (confidence interval [CI] 95%: 22.01-29.12) in the children of grup o A and 12.67 months (CI 95%: 9.90-15.44) in the children of group B (p = 0 .01). The median time to reach normal IgM values at 12 months was 15.93 mon ths (CI 95%: 15.21-16.65) in group A children versus 11.20 months (CI 95%: 8.51-13.89) in group B (p = 0.11). The median time to reach normal IgG valu es at 12 months was 19.67 months (CI 95%: 13.12-16.22) in group A children versus 12.73 months (CI 95%: 11.16-14.30) in group B (p = 0.05), The normal IgA levels were reached 2.36 (CI 95%: 1.16-4.81) times later in group A th an in group a children (p = 0.02), whereas normal IgG levels were reached 1 .88 (CI 95%: 0.94-3.78) times later in group A than in group B of children. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that treatment of pregnant mothers with Z DV clearly affect the ability of their newborns to produce inmunoglobulins, which may have important practical implications for their vaccination prot ocols.