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Growth and body composition in children infected with the human immunodeficiency virus-1
T L Miller1, S J Evans, E J Orav
1Combined Program in Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115.
Insights
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) does not impact birth weight. However, postnatal factors lead to reduced weight gain and lower lean body mass in HIV-infected children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Research
Background:
- Children born to HIV-infected mothers face unique health challenges.
- Understanding the long-term anthropometric outcomes for these children is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare anthropometric measurements between HIV-seroreverted and HIV-infected children.
- To assess the impact of HIV infection on growth and body composition postnatally.
Main Methods:
- Collected anthropometric data (birth weight, gestational age, weight, height, AMC, TSF) on 89 children.
- Compared measurements between HIV-seroreverted (n=37) and HIV-infected (n=52) groups.
- Utilized percentile data for weight, height, AMC, and TSF for comparison.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in gestational age or birth weight between groups.
- HIV-infected children showed significantly lower weight-for-height percentiles.
- Arm muscle circumference percentiles were notably lower in HIV-infected children.
Conclusions:
- HIV infection does not affect birth weight but influences postnatal weight gain.
- Reduced lean body mass is evident in early stages of HIV infection.
- Postnatal factors significantly impact growth trajectories in children with HIV.
Abstract:
Anthropometric data were collected on 89 children born to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women (37 who seroreverted and 52 who were HIV-infected). The main outcomes included birth weight, gestational age, weight, height, arm muscle circumference (AMC), and triceps skinfold thickness (TSF). Gestational age and birth weight were not different between the two groups. The earliest anthropometric evaluation on seroreverted children (age 19 mo) when compared with HIV-infected children (age 21 mo) revealed that weight and weight-for-height percentiles were significantly different (51% vs 33% and 66% vs 48%, respectively). Height and TSF percentiles were not different, although AMC percentiles were lower in infected children (64% vs 43%). In follow-up evaluations, the weight differences between infected and control children did not change. We conclude that HIV does not affect birth weight, but postnatal events result in altered weight gain in HIV-infected children. Lean body mass is lower than in an HIV-negative comparison group at early stages of HIV infection.