Faculty Articles
Mothers of infants with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Evidence for both symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers
Publication Title
Journal of the American Medical Association
ISSN
0098-7484
Publication Date
1-18-1985
Abstract
Sixteen mothers of 22 infants with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex were followed up for evidence of clinical and immunologic abnormalities. With one exception, all mothers were clinically well at delivery but had evidence of immune dysfunction, with T-cell abnormalities and inverted T4/T8 ratios and/or elevation of serum immunoglobulin levels, particularly of IgG. During a follow-up period that averaged 30 months, AIDS developed in five of the mothers and AIDS-related complex in seven. Twelve subsequent pregnancies in 11 mothers produced four affected infants, suggesting that mothers can be persistently infected. Six mothers were delivered of subsequent infants who remain unaffected. These results suggest that the mothers are the likely source of infection in non-transfusion-associated cases of AIDS or AIDS-related complex in infants, that mothers have persistent immunologic abnormalities, and that they are at increased risk of developing AIDS or AIDS-related complex.
Volume
253
Issue
3
First Page
363
Last Page
366
Disciplines
Medical Specialties | Medicine and Health Sciences | Osteopathic Medicine and Osteopathy
NSUWorks Citation
Scott, G. B.; Fischl, M. A.; Klimas, Nancy G.; Fletcher, Mary A.; Dickinson, G. M.; Levine, R. S.; and Parks, W. P., "Mothers of infants with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Evidence for both symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers" (1985). Faculty Articles. 463.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_com_faculty_articles/463
