Maternal and perinatal factors related to maternal-infant transmission of HIV-1 in the P(super)2C(super)2 HIV Study: the role of EBV shedding. (Epstein-Barr virus)

Several maternal characteristics appear to increase the chance that an HIV-infected pregnant woman will transmit HIV to her baby. Researchers analyzed the characteristics of 508 HIV-infected pregnant women, 18% of whom had an HIV-infected baby. Low CD4 counts were associated with HIV transmission, as was premature rupture of membranes and bleeding. Like many adults, many of the women had been exposed to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and those with active EBV infection were more likely to transmit HIV to their baby.