Dynamics of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication in vertically infected infants

Abstract

Plasma human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) turnover and kinetics were studied in children aged 15 days to 2 years following the initiation of a triple antiretroviral drug regimen consisting of zidovudine, lamivudine, and nevirapine. HIV-1 turnover was at least as rapid as that previously described in adults; turnover rates were more rapid in infants and children aged 3 months to 2 years than in infants less than 3 months of age. These data confirm the central role of HIV-1 replication in the pathogenesis of vertical HIV-1 infection and reinforce the importance of early, potent combination therapies for the long-term control of HIV-1 replication.

Figures

FIG. 1

Plasma HIV-1 RNA copy numbers (log 10 scale) for four patients. The circles represent the observed data, and the solid lines are the fitted curves. Under the perfect treatment assumption, d1 = δ, d2 = μ, and t1/2 represents the corresponding half-lives.

FIG. 2

Correlation between the second-phase viral decay rate (μ) and the age of patients at the time of study entry.