Effect of Maternal HIV-1 Status and Antiretroviral Drugs on Haematological Profiles of South African Infants in Early Life

Maternal HIV-1 status and antiretroviral drug exposure may influence the haematological profiles of infants. We recruited infants from 118 uninfected control women and from 483 HIV-1 infected women who received no antiretroviral drugs (n=28), or received single-dose Nevirapine (sdNVP) (n=424) or triple-drug combination therapy (n=31) to reduce HIV-1 transmission. Blood was drawn from infants within 24 hours of delivery or 6-12 weeks post-delivery and full blood counts performed using a fully automated AcT-5-diff haematology analyser and reference controls. Exposed uninfected (EU; no NVP) differed from control infants only in having lower basophil counts and percentages. In all infant groups, leukocyte profiles showed characteristic quantitative changes with age in the first 6 weeks of life. HIV-1 infected infants displayed by 6 weeks elevations in white blood cells, lymphocyte, monocyte and basophil counts, and monocyte and basophil percentages, when compared to EU infants. At birth EU NVP-treated infants exhibited elevated monocyte percentages and counts and basophil counts that did not persist at 6 weeks. Interestingly, EU newborns of mothers with high CD4 counts (> 500 cells/μl) that had taken sdNVP had significantly elevated white blood cell, monocyte and basophil counts when compared to newborn infants of mothers with similar CD4 counts that had not taken sdNVP; this was not evident in infants of mothers with CD4 counts <200 cells/μl. These previously undescribed features may affect immune response capability in early life and clinical consequences of such changes need to be further investigated

Vigilância do desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor de crianças de um programa DST/AIDS

A terapia anti-retroviral de alta potência (TARV) é uma forma eficaz de prevenção da transmissão do vírus HIV de mãe para filho. No entanto, os estudos ainda investigam os efeitos da exposição intraútero à TARV, dentre eles o atraso no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor (DNPM). O presente estudo apresenta o relato de um projeto de extensão, cujos objetivos foram verificar o DNPM de crianças de um programa DST/AIDS, orientar as famílias considerando seu contexto socioeconômico e realizar encaminhamentos para serviços de saúde específicos. A vigilância do DNPM foi feita em três etapas: (1) avaliação em ambulatório; (2) avaliação e orientações em domicílio; (3) elaboração de relatórios aos gestores de saúde. Foram utilizados os testes DENVER II e o PEDI, além de um questionário socioeconômico. Participam do programa DST/AIDS 15 crianças, sendo 12 soro-revertidas, 1 soropositiva e 2 indefinidas. Doze crianças foram avaliadas, e os domínios mais comprometidos foram linguagem, pessoal-social e motor fino, respectivamente. Quanto ao nível econômico, 73,3% pertenciam ao nível E, e 58,3% das mães eram analfabetas ou cursaram apenas o primário. Crianças filhas de mães HIV positivo, além de fatores biológicos, geralmente estão expostas a fatores de risco ambientais que contribuem para alterações do DNPM. Desta forma, o acompanhamento por uma equipe de profissionais de saúde, em parceria com a família da criança, torna-se uma importante ferramenta para a identificação e intervenção precoce.Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is an effective way of preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. However, further studies investigate the effects of short and long term exposure to HAART in-utero and its consequence on child neuropsychomotor development (NPMD). The paper presents a report and discussion of results of an extension project whose objectives were to verify the NPMD of children participating of the STD/AIDS program, to orientate families according to their socioeconomic context and make referrals to specific health services. The NPMD surveillance was divided into three parts: (1) ambulatory evaluation; (2) home evaluation and orientations; (3) reporting health managers. DENVER II and PEDI tests were used and also a socioeconomic questionnaire. Fifteen children were on the program of which 12 uninfected, 1 HIV+ and 2 indeterminate. Twelve children were evaluated and the most impaired domain were language, personal-social and fine motor, respectively. Regarding to socioeconomic status, 73,3% were E level and 58,3% of mothers were analphabet or had primary school. Children born of infected mothers, besides the biological risks, usually are exposed to environment/social risks that can affect the NPMD. Thus, monitoring by a team of health professionals, in partnership with the child's family, becomes an important tool for identification and early intervention

RISK FACTORS OF HIV-1 VERTICAL TRANSMISSION (VT) AND THE INFLUENCE OF ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY (ART) IN PREGNANCY OUTCOME

In the absence of intervention, the rate of vertical transmission of HIV can range from 15-45%. With the inclusion of antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy and the choice of delivery route this amounts to less than 2%. However ARV use during pregnancy has generated several questions regarding the adverse effects of the gestational and neonatal outcome. This study aims to analyze the risk factors for vertical transmission of HIV-1 seropositive pregnant women living in Rio Grande and the influence of the use of ARVs in pregnancy outcome. Among the 262 pregnant women studied the rate of vertical transmission of HIV was found to be 3.8%. Regarding the VT, there was a lower risk of transmission when antiretroviral drugs were used and prenatal care was conducted at the referral service. However, the use of ART did not influence the outcome of pregnancy. However, initiation of prenatal care after the first trimester had an influence on low birth weight, as well as performance of less than six visits increased the risk of prematurity. Therefore, the risk factors analyzed in this study appear to be related to the realization of inadequate pre-natal and maternal behavior

Vitamin A, vitamin E, iron and zinc status in a cohort of HIV-infected mothers and their uninfected infants

Introduction We hypothesized that nutritional deficiency would be common in a cohort of postpartum, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women and their infants. Methods Weight and height, as well as blood concentrations of retinol, α-tocopherol, ferritin, hemoglobin, and zinc, were measured in mothers after delivery and in their infants at birth and at 6-12 weeks and six months of age. Retinol and α-tocopherol levels were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography, and zinc levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The maternal body mass index during pregnancy was adjusted for gestational age (adjBMI). Results Among the 97 women 19.6% were underweight. Laboratory abnormalities were most frequently observed for the hemoglobin (46.4%), zinc (41.1%), retinol (12.5%) and ferritin (6.5%) levels. Five percent of the women had mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations < 31g/dL. The most common deficiency in the infants was α-tocopherol (81%) at birth; however, only 18.5% of infants had deficient levels at six months of age. Large percentages of infants had zinc (36.8%) and retinol (29.5%) deficiencies at birth; however, these percentages decreased to 17.5% and 18.5%, respectively, by six months of age. No associations between infant micronutrient deficiencies and either the maternal adjBMI category or maternal micronutrient deficiencies were found. Conclusions Micronutrient deficiencies were common in HIV-infected women and their infants. Micronutrient deficiencies were less prevalent in the infants at six months of age. Neither underweight women nor their infants at birth were at increased risk for micronutrient deficiencies

Antiretroviral agents and acid-base balance at delivery of the neonate.

Limited evidence is available regarding antiretroviral (ARV) safety for uninfected infants exposed to these drugs in utero. Our objective was to determine if ARV administered to pregnant women is associated with decreasing umbilical arterial pH and base excess in uninfected infants. A prospective study was conducted on 57 neonates divided into three groups: ZDV group, born to mothers taking zidovudine (N = 20), triple therapy (TT) group, born to mothers taking zidovudine + lamivudine + nelfinavir (N = 25), and control group (N = 12), born to uninfected mothers. Umbilical cord blood was used to determine umbilical artery gases. A test was performed to calculate the sample by comparing means by the unpaired one-tailed t-test, with alpha = 0.05 and beta = 20%, indicating the need for a sample of 18 newborn infants for the study groups to detect differences higher than 20%. The control and ARV groups were similar in gestational age, birth weight, and Apgar scores. Values of pH, pCO2, bicarbonate, and base excess in cord arterial blood obtained at delivery from the newborns exposed to TT were 7.23, 43.2 mmHg, 19.5 mEq/L, and -8.5 nmol/L, respectively, with no significant difference compared to the control and ZDV groups. We conclude that intrauterine exposure to ARV is not associated with a pathological decrease in umbilical arterial pH or base excess. While our data are reassuring, follow-up is still limited and needs to be continued into adulthood because of the possible potential for adverse effects of triple antiretroviral agents

Concentrações de retinol e de beta-caroteno séricos e perfil nutricional de crianças em Teresina, Piauí, Brasil Serum concentrations of retinol and beta-carotene, and nutritional status of children in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as concentrações séricas de retinol e beta-caroteno de pré-escolares em Teresina, Piauí, com caracterização do perfil antropométrico e do consumo alimentar. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal envolvendo 135 crianças em creche municipal, com avaliação do estado nutricional pelos métodos: bioquímico (concentração sérica de retinol e beta-caroteno), antropométrico (índices de peso para estatura - P/E e estatura para idade - E/I) e dietético (freqüência de consumo alimentar). RESULTADOS: Observou-se prevalência de deficiência de vitamina A (DVA) de 8,9% (IC95%: 4,7 - 15,0%) e existência de associação entre suplementação anterior e concentrações de retinol, com maior proporção de crianças com níveis normais de retinol entre as suplementadas (p = 0,025). As concentrações de retinol e de beta-caroteno mostraram-se correlacionadas, porém com força leve a moderada (p < 0,021). Os percentuais de crianças com baixo P/E e de baixa E/I foram de 1,9% (IC95%: 0,2 - 6,8%) e 9,7% (IC95%: 4,8 - 17,1%), respectivamente. Na avaliação dietética verificou-se baixo consumo de alimentos ricos em vitamina A. CONCLUSÕES: A elevada prevalência de DVA nas crianças, combinada com a alta percentagem de crianças com valores aceitáveis de retinol, os baixos valores medianos de beta-caroteno, a alta percentagem de déficit estatural e a inadequação do consumo de alimentos ricos em vitamina A, indicam a necessidade de se aprimorar as estratégias de educação em saúde e nutrição da população, incentivando o consumo de alimentos fontes de vitamina A, como medidas auto-sustentáveis importantes no combate ao problema. Além disso, deve ser considerado o incentivo à fortificação dos alimentos e ao fortalecimento de Programas de suplementação.<br>OBJECTIVE: To evaluate serum concentrations of retinol and beta-carotene of children in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, and to evaluate their anthropometric profile and consumption of food sources of vitamin A. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 135 children from 36 to 83 months of age who attended a public child day care center. Nutritional status was evaluated by: biochemical (serum concentrations of retinol and beta-carotene), anthropometric (weight for height - W/H and height for age - H/A indexes), and dietary (frequency of consumption of food sources of vitamin A) methods. RESULTS: The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) was 8.9% (95%CI: 4.7-15.0%). An association between previous supplementation with vitamin A and serum concentrations of retinol was observed, with a higher proportion of children with normal concentrations of retinol among those supplemented (p=0.025). There was a weak to moderate statistically significant correlation between the concentrations of retinol and beta-carotene, (p<0.021). The prevalence of low W/H and low H/A was respectively 1.9% (95%CI: 0.2-6.8%) and 9.7% (95%CI: 4.8-17.1%). The dietary evaluation showed low consumption of foods rich in vitamin A. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of VAD combined to the prevalence of children with acceptable concentrations of retinol, low median concentrations of beta-carotene, low H/A, and inadequate ingestion of foods rich in vitamin A, reinforce the need to improve health and nutrition education in this population. Based on these results, we recommend the ingestion of foods rich in vitamin A, as an important policy to deal with this nutritional problem. Efforts are also necessary to maintain food fortification and supplementation Programs