Maternal Viral Load, Zidovudine Treatment, and the Risk of Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 from Mother to Infant

Abstract

A high maternal plasma concentration of virus is a risk factor for the transmission of HIV-1 from an untreated mother to her infant. The reduction in such transmission after zidovudine treatment is only partly explained by the reduction in plasma levels of viral RNA. To prevent HIV-1 transmission, initiating maternal treatment with zidovudine is recommended regardless of the plasma level of HIV-1 RNA or the CD4+ count.