부산대학교 도서관

Older pregnant women in an advanced stage of HIV infection may be more likely to transmit the virus to their baby. Researchers have followed 848 HIV-positive women and their babies since delivery. The babies were tested periodically for HIV. A total of 171 babies became infected with the virus. This 20% transmission rate was relatively stable between 1986 and 1990. Women who were older, those who breastfed and those with advanced infection were more likely to transmit the virus. Advanced infection was marked by low white blood cell counts, a smaller percentage of CD4 cells and a greater percentage of CD8 cells. Women with a viral protein called p24 in their blood were also more likely to transmit the virus. This protein is produced when the virus is reproducing. Women who delivered by cesarean section were just as likely to transmit the virus as those who delivered naturally.