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Clinical Trial
. 1995 Dec;172(6):1461-8.
doi: 10.1093/infdis/172.6.1461.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected cells in breast milk: association with immunosuppression and vitamin A deficiency

R W Nduati  1 , G C John, B A Richardson, J Overbaugh, M Welch, J Ndinya-Achola, S Moses, K Holmes, F Onyango, J K Kreiss
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected cells in breast milk: association with immunosuppression and vitamin A deficiency

R W Nduati et al. J Infect Dis. 1995 Dec.

Abstract

Breast milk samples from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-seropositive women were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction to determine the prevalence and determinants of HIV-1-infected cells in breast milk. Breast milk samples (212) were collected from 107 women, and 58% of the samples had detectable HIV-1 DNA. The proportion of HIV-1-infected cells in the milk samples ranged from 1 to 3255/10(4) cells. Breast milk samples with detectable HIV-1 DNA were more likely to be from women with absolute CD4 cell counts of < 400 (odds ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5-7.0). Severe vitamin A deficiency (< 20 micrograms/dL) was associated with a 20-fold increased risk of having HIV-1 DNA in breast milk among women with < 400 CD4 cells/mm3 (95% CI, 2.1-188.5). Women with CD4 cell depletion, especially those with vitamin A deficiency, may be at increased risk of transmitting HIV-1 to their infants through breast milk.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence and concentration of HIV-1 DNA in breast milk cells. Percents indicate % with <10 or : 10 infected cells/104. mos, months.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Association of maternal vitamin A levels with prevalence of HIV-1 DNA in colostrum for women with absolute CD4 cells <400. OR, odds ratio; PCR, polymerase chain reaction.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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