Lack of correlation of maternal human immunodeficiency virus infection with neonatal malformations

A malformation syndrome has been proposed in infants with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related complex secondary to congenital infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the United States and Europe. To determine whether embryopathy is detectable in HIV-exposed African infants, 85 infants of HIV-seropositive mothers and 98 infants of HIV-seronegative mothers in Nairobi, Kenya, were examined for minor and major anomalous features shortly after birth. No mother used intravenous drugs. With the exception of growth failure no anomalous feature was associated with in utero HIV exposure. No increase in the number of anomalous features per infant was correlated with HIV, nor did any infant have the reported malformation syndrome. Thus in this population of African infants examination for anomalous features during the neonatal period failed to identify those infants with fetal exposure to HIV.