       Document 0658
 DOCN  M9630658
 TI    [the early diagnosis of the vertical transmission of the human
       immunodeficiency virus type 1. The evaluation of diagnostic tests]
 DT    9603
 AU    Cruz Garcia M; de Jose I; Hawkins F; Bates I; Martinez Zapico R;
       Ferreira A; Fontan G; Unidad de Inmunologia, Hospital La Paz, Madrid.
 SO    Med Clin (Barc). 1995 Oct 14;105(12):446-9. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96077784
 AB    BACKGROUND: The early diagnosis of vertically transmitted human
       immunodeficiency virus infection cannot be based on the presence of
       specific serum antibodies since those of the maternal IgG class pass the
       placenta and may be detected in children for up to 18 months. Based on
       this fact, the aim of this study was to evaluate other techniques for
       early diagnosis of the infection applicable from birth in 306 children
       of infected mothers. METHODS: The production of in vitro antibodies,
       virus culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used. The
       sensitivity of the techniques was estimated in the 40 children diagnosed
       with human immunodeficiency virus infection and specificity was
       determined in the 266 uninfected children. RESULTS: The sensitivity for
       the production of in vitro antibodies was 62.0% at 3 months and 94.7% at
       6 months; 90.4% and 88.2%, respectively, for the viral culture and 92.3%
       and 94.1%, respectively, for the PCR. The specificity of all the cases
       was higher than 89.4% although varied in relation to age. CONCLUSIONS:
       The combination of several diagnostic techniques provides better
       performance for the early diagnosis of vertical transmission of the
       human immunodeficiency virus. Given that viral culture takes longer to
       provide results and is more expensive, it is less recommendable for
       routine use, although the form of viral replication may be useful to
       establish the prognosis.
 DE    Aging/IMMUNOLOGY  *Disease Transmission, Vertical/STATISTICS & NUMER
       DATA  English Abstract  Female  Human  HIV Antibodies/BLOOD  HIV
       Infections/*DIAGNOSIS/*TRANSMISSION  HIV
       Seropositivity/DIAGNOSIS/TRANSMISSION  *HIV-1/ISOLATION & PURIF  Infant
       Infant, Newborn  Male  Polymerase Chain Reaction/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA
       Prospective Studies  Sensitivity and Specificity  Time Factors  JOURNAL
       ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

