A Prospective, Observational Study of HIV-Infected Pregnant Women and Their Infants at Clinical Sites in Latin American and Caribbean Countries

By the end of 1999, it was estimated that 1.2 million children were living with HIV infection. During 1999 alone, 600,000 children were newly infected with HIV, mostly in less-developed countries. Most HIV-infected children are infected by transmission from mother to child during pregnancy, at birth, or through breast milk. Antiretroviral medications, cesarean section before rupture of membranes, and avoidance of breastfeeding are ways to reduce the risk of transmission. This study will determine mother-to-child transmission rates and the effects on infants of exposure to antiretroviral medications and mode of delivery.

Approximately 180 to 240 HIV-infected pregnant women in Mexico and Argentina will be enrolled during the first year of this 5-year study. HIV-infected women will be evaluated during pregnancy, during delivery, and 6 months after delivery. At each visit, a history will be taken and physical examination given; blood will be collected for laboratory tests.

HIV-exposed infants will be evaluated through 6 months of age. At each of 2 visits, a history will be taken and physical examination given; blood will be collected for laboratory tests; and growth will be assessed.

This is an observational, prospective cohort study to describe the characteristics of HIV-infected pregnant women and HIV-exposed, uninfected children at participating clinical sites in Latin America where the following are available: 1) antiretrovirals (ARVs) for treatment of HIV-infected women and for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV; and 2) infant formula. We will describe the utilization of interventions related to decreasing the risk of MTCT, including ARV prophylaxis, cesarean section before labor and before ruptured membranes, and complete avoidance of breastfeeding. We will describe receipt of maternal ARV regimens and determine rates of MTCT of HIV. This study will describe maternal adverse events during pregnancy and the postpartum period. In addition, the study will describe child outcomes potentially related to in utero and early postnatal exposure to ARVs. HIV-infected women will be evaluated antepartum, intrapartum, 6 months postpartum and then every 6 months for up to 5 years after delivery. HIV-exposed, uninfected children will be evaluated for up to 5 years of follow-up.

Eligibility Criteria:
* INCLUSION CRITERIA: (HIV-Infected Pregnant Women)

Pregnant women at 22 weeks of gestation or more with documentation of pregnancy, using one or more of the following:

Urine HCG pregnancy test;

Serum HCG pregnancy test;

Positive fetal heart tones by Doppler; or

Ultrasound.

Documentation of HIV infection, defined by any two of the following prior to or during pregnancy:

Reactive test for HIV antibody;

Positive HIV culture;

Positive HIV DNA PCR;

Positive neutralizable HIV p24 antigen;

Positive qualitative HIV RNA;

Quantitative HIV RNA greater than or equal to 1000 copies/ml; and

Diagnosis of AIDS-defining clinical condition.

Willingness and intent to deliver at the participating clinical site and to be followed through six months postpartum at the site or associated outpatient facility.

Willingness and ability to sign informed consent-Subject must be of an age to provide legal informed consent as defined by the country in which the subject resides.

Willingness and intent to have children followed for up to 5 years.

Subjects may be co-enrolled in clinical trials for treatment or prophylaxis of HIV infection, opportunistic infections, or other HIV related problems.

Subjects may be re-enrolled with subsequent pregnancies during this study. However, if so, their follow-up for the previous pregnancy will be discontinued. Children from each pregnancy will be followed in accordance with the protocol.

Subjects may enroll up to and prior to delivery, including during labor.

INCLUSION CRITERIA: (Dynamic Pediatric Cohort)

-HIV-exposed children born to enrolled HIV-infected pregnant women. Children diagnosed with HIV infection will be discontinued from the present protocol and(if eligible) offered enrollment into a concurrent NICHD-funded protocol for HIV-infected children.

INCLUSION CRITERIA: (Static Pediatric Cohort)

-HIV-exposed, uninfected children who are 6 months of age through 5 years 364 days of age and were previously enrolled in the NISDI Pediatric Protocol or NISDI Perinatal Protocol.

And

* Other HIV-exposed, uninfected children who are 6 months of age through 5 years 364 days of age at time of enrollment into this protocol.

  1. Documentation of HIV-uninfected status should be obtained from medical

     record review.
  2. Evidence of the HIV-uninfected status of the infants and children can be documented by the following:

     --Two or more negative HIV virologic assays (e.g., HIV culture or HIV DNA PCR) with one test performed at age 1 month or older and one performed at age 4 months or older, and no positive virologic tests.

     Or

     --One or more negative HIV virologic assays performed at 1 month of age or older with one or more negative HIV antibody tests (including HIV rapid tests) performed at greater than or equal to 6 months of age.

     Or

     --One positive HIV virologic assay, with at least two later negative HIV virologic tests (at least one of which is after age 4 months of age) or negative HIV antibody tests (at least one of which is after 6 months of age).
  3. Documentation of HIV infection in the mother must have been obtained either prior to or during pregnancy or within one month postpartum.
  4. Evidence of HIV infection in the mother can be documented by two or more of the following:

     * Reactive test for HIV antibody;
     * Positive HIV culture;
     * Positive HIV DNA PCR;
     * Positive quantitative HIV p24 antigen above assay cutoff;
     * Positive qualitative HIV RNA;
     * Quantitative HIV RNA \>= 1000 copies/ml; and
     * Diagnosis of AIDS-defining clinical condition.
  5. Complete data regarding maternal medications received during pregnancy must be available through medical record abstraction.

     EXCLUSION CRITERIA: (HIV-Infected Pregnant Women)

     Failure to meet inclusion criteria.

     EXCLUSION CRITERIA: (Dynamic Pediatric Cohort)
* Failure to meet inclusion criteria

EXCLUSION CRITERIA: (Static Pediatric Cohort)

* HIV infection of the child
* Insufficient documentation of HIV infection in the mother obtained either prior to or during pregnancy or within one month postpartum.
* Insufficient evidence of HIV infection in the mother
* Insufficient perinatal data

  1. Incomplete data regarding maternal medications received during pregnancy (e.g., missing start and stop dates).
  2. Incomplete data regarding postnatal ARV exposure.