Prospective 5-year study of peripheral blood CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+/CD20+ lymphocytes and serum Igs in children born to HIV-1+ women

Abstract

Background: Peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, CD19+/20+ B cells, and serum Igs are known to be altered by the progression of pediatric HIV-1 infection, but their evaluation as predictors of survival needs further definition. Objective: To determine the natural history of these immune factors and their importance in predicting survival, we studied 298 HIV-1 vertically infected (HIV-1+) children over a 5-year period. Methods: These immune factors and serum HIV-1 RNA levels were measured in two groups: (1) a birth cohort of children enrolled up to age 28 days postnatally, including 93 HIV-1+ and 463 HIV-1 uninfected infants (HIV-1–), and (2) an older cohort of 205 HIV-1+ children enrolled after the age of 28 days, who were classified as survivors or nonsurvivors. Results: In the birth cohort HIV-1+ children had significantly lower CD4+ T-cell counts, higher CD8+ T-cell counts, and lower CD19+/20+ B-cell counts and higher IgG, IgA, and IgM levels than HIV-1– children. In the older cohort survivors had significantly higher CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell and CD19+/CD20+ B-cell counts and higher IgG, lower IgA, and lower IgM levels than did nonsurvivors. In univariable analysis factors affecting survival in the older cohort were baseline CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell and CD19+/20+ B-cell counts and IgG and HIV-1 RNA levels (all P < .05). In multivariable analysis high baseline CD4+ T-cell count and low baseline HIV-1 RNA load remained important. Conclusion: The longitudinal mean profiles of CD4 and CD8 T-cell and CD19/20 B-cell counts and serum IgG levels helped to describe the natural progression of HIV-1 disease in children. However, only baseline CD4 T-cell count independently predicted survival. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2000;106:559-66.)