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  • Title: [Viral load quantification for the early diagnosis of perinatal human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection].
    Author: Resino García S, Alonso Arias R, Jiménez Fuentes JL, Gurbindo Gutiérrez D, Muñoz-Fernández MA.
    Journal: An Esp Pediatr; 1998 Jul; 49(1):60-4. PubMed ID: 9718769.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of polymerase chain reaction (DNA-PCR) and virus cultures with HIV-RNA assays (viral load) in the early diagnosis of vertically transmitted HIV-1 infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and six infants born to HIV-1 seropositive mothers were divided into three groups: A) Nineteen newborns (24-26 hours of age): B) Twenty-three infants between 1 and 2 months of age; and C) Sixty-four infants older than 2 months. HIV-1 RNA was measured in plasma and HIV proviral DNA was determined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells after amplification by DNA-PCR. The HIV was isolated by a microculture technique. RESULTS: In the samples obtained during the neonatal period (less than 96 hours of age), 75% of the infants were positive by viral load analysis, 50% by proviral DNA-PCR and only 25% by culture assay. In group B, 100% of the infants were positive by viral load analysis and 85.7% by proviral DNA-PCR and culture assays. Viral load, proviral DNA-PCR and cultures were positive in all infants older than 2 months of age. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the 3 techniques, viral load, DNA-PCR and culture, have 100% sensitivity after 2 months of age. However, the viral load technique, which is not routinely used, was found to have a higher sensitivity than proviral DNA-PCR and viral culture in infants younger than 2 months. We conclude that viral load is a useful technique to diagnose HIV infection in newborns.
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