Assessment of Anthropometric, Nutritional and Immunologic Status in Children Born to Women Infected by Human Immunodeficiency Virus

LEARNING OUTCOME: Infection with HIV was associated with significant decrements in growth, weight gain and CD4+ T-lymphocyte count Poor growth, weight loss, low energy intake and depletion of CD4+ T-lymphocyte cell counts are prominent findings in infants and children with human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV). The purpose of this study was to analyze on a cross-sectional basis the relationship between growth, body weight, nutrient intake, CD4+ T-lymphocyte cell counts and HIV status in infants and children perinatally exposed to HIV infection. The children (n=48 HIV-infected, n=35 uninfected, age 0-12y) attended a pediatric infectious disease clinic in New York City. Anthropometric measurements and CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts were obtained from medical records and food intake was assessed from multiple 24-hour dietary recall records for 34 HIV-exposed children. Statistical analysis (T-tests, chi square tests) showed that infants and children infected with HIV weighed less (NCHS-weight for age z-score - .57 vs .01, p=.04) and were shorter in stature (length for age z-score - .90 vs - .42, p=.04) than uninfected children. The mean CD4+ T-lymphocyte count of infected children was significantly lower (743 vs 2316, p=.000) than that of uninfected children. Infected children, whose CD4+ levels