Effects of Anti-HIV Therapy on Red Blood Cells of HIV-infected Mothers and Their Infants

This collaborative investigation between NIEHS, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina (UNC) will study red blood cells of babies born to HIV-infected women receiving anti-retroviral treatment. Studies have shown that newborn mice whose mothers were given anti-HIV medications during pregnancy had abnormal red blood cells circulating in their blood stream, indicating genetic damage to the cells caused by the anti-HIV medications. It is not known if similar red blood cell abnormalities develop in human infants whose mothers received anti-HIV medication during their pregnancy. This study will examine red blood cells from infants exposed to anti-HIV medications and from non-exposed infants to look for differences between them involving this specific genetic damage.

Healthy pregnant women and HIV-infected pregnant women who received antiretroviral treatment during their last trimester of pregnancy and during labor may be eligible for this study. Babies of HIV-infected women are also included in the study. Candidates will be recruited from medical centers at Duke University and the UNC. HIV-infected mothers must plan to have their baby followed by either the UNC or the Duke Pediatric Infectious Disease clinic.

All women in the study will have 1 milliliter (less than 1/2 teaspoon) of blood collected for this study during delivery at the same time that other blood samples are obtained for their medical care. In addition, 5 ml (1 teaspoon) of umbilical cord blood will also be collected for this study at the time of delivery after the cord is no longer attached to the baby. This concludes participation of non-HIV infected women.

Babies born to HIV-infected mothers will have 1 ml of blood drawn between 0 to 3 days of life, between 4 to 6 weeks of life, and between 4 to 6 months of life. These bloodsamples will be collected at the same time as other routine scheduled blood draws.