Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 RNA in Breast‐Milk Components

• DOI: 10.1086/378414
• Publication Date: 2003-10-13T14:09:26Z
• Authors: Irving F. Hoffman; Francis E. A. Mar...; Paul W. Stewart; David A. Chilongozi; Szu‐Yun Leu; Peter N. Kazembe; Topia Banda; Willard Dzinyemba; Priya Joshi; Myron S. Cohen; Susan A. Fiscus
• Keywords: Adult; 0303 health sciences; Milk, Human; HIV Infections; Pilot Projects; Mastitis; Viral Load; Sensitivity and Specificity; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; HIV-1; Humans; Lactation; RNA, Viral; Female

We conducted the present study to determine which of the 4 components of breast milk (whole milk, skim milk, lipid layer, and breast-milk cells) had the highest sensitivity and concentration of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 RNA burden and to determine biological correlates to these factors. The probability of detection of HIV (sensitivity) and the concentration of HIV-1 RNA were both associated with the choice of milk component, CD4(+) cell count, concentration of blood serum HIV-1 RNA, and the presence of breast inflammation. Whole milk demonstrated higher sensitivity and mean concentration than any other single component. Sensitivity was enhanced by analyzing all 4 components of breast milk.