Young women with HIV infection acquired by vertical transmission. Expectations of having uninfected children

La terapia anti-retroviral en pediatría (TARV), cambió el pronóstico de la enfermedad, permitiendo embarazarse a mujeres jóvenes infectadas por transmisión vertical (TV). Objetivos: Conocer las características clínico-inmunológicas de las mujeres embarazadas, tratamientos recibidos, condición al embarazo y seguimiento de sus recién nacidos. Material y Método: Se efectuó un protocolo, evaluando etapas clínico-inmunológicas en el embarazo, TARV usadas, protocolo de prevención de transmisión vertical (PPTV) y seguimiento de los niños hasta 18 meses. Resultados: De 358 pacientes con infección por VIH adquirida por TV, cinco mujeres se embarazaron, con edades entre 14 a 24 años, embarazos que fueron controlados por el equipo de salud, encontrándose en etapa clínico-inmunológica N2 a C3. Habían recibido dos a cinco esquemas de TARV. Se efectuó PPTV completo en todos los binomios. Las cargas virales previas al parto fluctuaron entre indetectable y 4.700 copias ARN/ml. Nacieron por cesárea cinco niños vivos, cuatro de término y uno con 34 semanas de gestación. Todos recibieron zidovudina (AZT) durante seis semanas. Los CD4 a las 72 h de vida fluctuaron entre 48 y 74,6%. Ninguno de los niños adquirió la infección por VIH en forma vertical. Sólo dos presentaron anemia leve. Conclusiones: Las expectativas de madres con infección por VIH de adquisición vertical de tener hijos sanos son semejantes a las infectadas por transmisión horizontal, al usar PPTV.Pediatric antiretroviral therapy (ART), changed the prognosis of the disease, allowing young women infected by vertical transmission (TV) to be pregnant without risk for their fetus of acquiring this infection. Aim: To describe the clinical-immune status in pregnant women that acquired HV by vertical transmission, treatments received, monitoring of pregnancy and newborn characteristics. Material and Methods: Aprotocol was performed, evaluating clinical and immunological parameters during pregnancy, ART used, protocol preventing vertical transmission (PPTV), and follow up of children to 18 months of age. Results: Of 358 HIV-positive patients vertically infected, five women became pregnant, between 14 and 24 years old. Pregnancies were controlled in clinical/immune-stage N2 C3: They had received two to five therapies. Full PPTV was performed in all binomials. Pre-natal undetectable viral loads ranged from 4,700 ARN copies/mL. Five living children were born by Caesarean section, four of them with 37 weeks of completed gestation and one of them with 34 weeks of gestation. All received zidovudine (AZT) for 6 weeks. CD4 at 72 hours of life ranged from 48% to 74.6%. All children were born uninfected with HIV. Only two had mild anemia. Conclusions: Expectations of HIV mothers vertically infected to have healthy children are similar to those infected by horizontal transmission, using PPTV

Usefulness of serum galactomannan in initiating and modifying antifungal therapy in children with cancer and persistent highrisk febrile neutropenia

Background Invasive fungal disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children with cancer and high-risk febrile neutropenia (HRFN). Repeated serum galactomannan (sGM) measurements have been described as an effective tool to guide therapy in adults under suspicion of invasive aspergillosis. However, the utility of this approach has not been reported in paediatric population. Objectives To evaluate the usefulness of sGM measurements in initiating and modifying antifungal therapy (AFT) in children with cancer and persistent HRFN. Patients/Methods Nested case-control study in children with cancer and persistent HRFN episodes, between July 2013 and January 2019. Patients were classified as cases and controls depending on if they received AFT or not, respectively. Through odds ratio analysis, we assessed the role of sGM positivity in the AFT initiation decision. Then, we analysed the group of patients that initiated AFT, and compared those who had AFT modifications and those who did not, analysing different sGM kinetics thresholds. Results A total of 191 episodes from children with persistent HRFN were enrolled, of which 107 received AFT and 84 did not. The median age was 7 years (IQR 4-12), 52% were male and 89% had a haematologic malignancy as underlying disease. Positive sGM was not associated with AFT initiation (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.43-2.33, P = .99). A difference threshold in sGM Delta >= 0.3 sGM was significantly associated with AFT modification (OR 5.07, 95% CI 1.02- 25.70, P = .04). Conclusions Our results suggest the utility of serial sGM sampling during AFT in children with persistent HRFN.Comision Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica (CONICYT) CONICYT FONDECYT 1120800 116166