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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2012 Feb 15;205(4):568-77.
doi: 10.1093/infdis/jir815. Epub 2012 Jan 11.

Reduction of antimalarial antibodies by HIV infection is associated with increased risk of Plasmodium falciparum cord blood infection

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Randomized Controlled Trial

Reduction of antimalarial antibodies by HIV infection is associated with increased risk of Plasmodium falciparum cord blood infection

Denise Naniche et al. J Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Plasmodium falciparum infection in pregnancy can lead to congenital malaria, which has detrimental health consequences for infants. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) might increase cord blood P. falciparum infection by decreasing maternal antimalarial-specific antibodies.

Methods: HIV-negative (n=133) and HIV-positive (n=55) Mozambican pregnant women were assessed at delivery for maternal and cord P. falciparum infection by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and P. falciparum-specific antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry.

Results: Prevalence of qPCR-detected cord blood infection was 8.0%. Risk of cord infection was increased in presence of HIV (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.80; P=.04) and placental malaria (AOR, 22.08; P=.002) after adjusting for clinical variables. The odds of having a high immunoglobulin G response to chondrotin sulphate A-binding infected erythrocytes, parasite lysate, and erythrocyte-binding antigen-175 were reduced among HIV-positive women (P < .001, .048, and .056, respectively) and among women with cord P. falciparum infection (P = .009, .04, and .046, respectively). In multivariate analysis including maternal HIV status, placental malaria, and antibody responses, HIV was no longer associated with cord blood infection (P = .11).

Conclusions: HIV-associated impairment of antibody responses in pregnant women may contribute to a higher transmission of P. falciparum to their infants.

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