Follow-up of patients with vertically-acquired HIV infection who are more than 9 years old.

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of biological markers of infection and antiretroviral therapy on the survival rate and quality of life in children with vertically-acquired HIV infection. This retrospective study was performed between August and October 2000. Outcome measures were presence of neurological disease, CD4 cell count, cranial computerized tomography (CT), electroencephalogram (EEG), use of antiretroviral agents, and mortality. The presence of neurological disease and of pathological findings in cranial computed tomography, and the lack of biological monitoring are associated with poor prognosis. Follow-up of this population should continue to allow long-term assessment of the social and biological impact of vertically-transmitted HIV.