Vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Prognostic value of IgA antibody to HIV-1 polypeptides during pregnancy

Abstract

In a retrospective study of 31 pregnant women infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), nine (29%) infants presented unequivocal signs of HIV-1 infection (persistent p24 antigenemia and/or positive virus isolation). All serum samples obtained from the others, during pregnancy and on delivery, were studied for specific antibody (IgA) production by immunoblotting analysis to establish a possible link between the presence of a defined antibody class and mother-to-child viral transmission. The majority (16 of 22) of HIV-1-seropositive mothers who delivered uninfected children showed IgA antibody to low-molecular-weight HIV-1 polypeptides during pregnancy. Among those who delivered infected babies, only one showed a weak IgA reactivity to HIV-1 during pregnancy. Thus, our results suggest that immunoblotting study of IgA may be a diagnostic adjunct to predict the risk of mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission.