Abstract
The presence of HIV-IgG-antibodies (AB) in newborns does not provide conclusive evidence of an actual infection with the virus. This is determinable only by long-term observation concerned in accordance with clinical, immunological and virological criteria.
Consequently, since July 85, all NB of HIV-AB-positive mothers are being kept under close central and 38 newborns have so fare been included in the study.
During an observation period of now over 20 months, none of the children have as yet contracted AIDS. A slight neurological abnormality was apparent in 3 children. 1 child who had become seronegative at 6 months of age suffered a bacterial meningitis at 11 months of age. Now the HI-virus was identified in CSF despite further seronegativeness.
As expected, 15 children whose virus culture was negative, became seronegative at between 3 to 7 months, however also 7 children with a positive virus culture became seronegative.
These results clearly show that AB-Screening is not a sufficient method of course control but that long-term observation is essential for accurate classification of HIV-AB in newborns.
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Grosch-Wörner, I., Koch, S., Stück, B. et al. Berlin prospective Study of children bom to HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)-positive mothers. Pediatr Res 22, 239 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198708000-00158
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198708000-00158