ABSTRACT
AIM OF THE STUDY: In most cases (about 80%) the HIV-infection of children is acquired during pregnancy or birth. Therefore peculiarities for diagnostic procedures and in the natural course of the disease can be expected if compared to AIDS acquired at adult age. Further interesting questions are the frequency of the (vertical) transmission from the infected mother to the child, the influence of mother- and/or child-related factors as well as the method of delivery on this transmission frequency. METHODS: In order to answer these questions the children of HIV-infected mothers since April 1, 1988 have been examined virologically, immunologically and clinically since birth by 6 study centers according to a standard protocol. The pregnancy data of the mothers have been documented, according to uniform criteria. Pre- or perinatally infected children not known to be antibody-positive at birth have been separately analysed. RESULTS: The frequency of pre/perinatal transmission from the mother to the child is 15.3%, the elective caesarean section seems to lower the transmission rate. Mother and/or infant related cofactors of the transmission could not be defined. In comparison to the control groups of the intrauterine HIV-exposed but not infected children, at birth the HIV-infected children were clinically and immunologically not ill. During their first months some of the infected children had a significant increase of serum IgG. Oral candidiasis, chronic recurrent diarrhoea and bacterial infections are indicator symptoms of beginning HIV-disease. The Minimum-AIDS-Prevalence in the child's first year is 24%. The relatively late AIDS manifestation (3.7 years) and the average value of 28 months of survival in retrospective observed children were a remarkable result. CONCLUSION: In general, the course of an HIV-infection in children of HIV-positive women in Germany seems to be comparable to results in other countries. The frequency of transmission from mother to child is relatively low (15.3%) and is an important result for maternity care. The caesarean section should be considered. The course of pregnancy must be examined more subtly in order to find out the still unclear causes of transmission. The Minimum-AIDS-Prevalence of 24% and the frequency of HIV-related signs and symptoms of 29% in the child's first year make it necessary to observe these children rather closely during this time.
