Received Apr 24, 1996; accepted Jul 15, 1996.
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From the * Department of Pediatrics, UCLA School of Medicine,
Los Angeles, California;
Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Novato,
California; § Pediatric AIDS Surveillance Study, Los Angeles Pediatric
AIDS Consortium, Los Angeles County Dept of Health Services, Los
Angeles, California;
Department of Pediatrics, UMD-New Jersey
Medical School and Children's Hospital of New Jersey, Newark, New
Jersey; ¶ Department of Pediatrics, Saint Vincents Hospital and Medical
Center of New York, New York; # Department of Pediatrics, University of
Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida; ** Children's Hospital
Oakland, Oakland, California; and 
Department of Pediatrics,
University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San
Francisco, California.
Objective. To identify the population of human immunodeficiency virus-infected pediatric long- term survivors (LTS) followed in major medical institutions in California, Florida and New Jersey.
Methods. A cross-sectional survey was performed with data
collection forms sent to all investigators. Demographic, clinical, and
laboratory data were obtained on all living patients
8 years infected
in the perinatal period with human immunodeficiency virus.
Results. A total of 143 perinatally infected and 54 children infected by neonatal transfusion were identified. Fifty-four children (27%) had absolute CD4 counts
500 cells/mm
(group 1: mean age 9.8 years), 54 children (27%) had CD4 counts
between 200 and 500 cells/mm (group 2: mean age 10.1 years), and 89 children (45%) had CD4 counts <200
cells/mm (group 3: mean age 10.4 years). Ninety-five
(48%) patients had developed AIDS defining conditions; 14 (26%) in
group 1, 26 (48%) in group 2, and 55 (62%) in group 3. Ninety-two
percent of patients had received antiretrovirals. Perinatally human
immunodeficiency virus-infected children tended to be younger (mean age
9.8 years) than children infected via a blood transfusion (mean age 11 years). Generalized lymphadenopathy was the most prevalent clinical
finding. Lymphoid interstitial pneumonia and recurrent bacterial
infections were the most prevalent acquired immune deficiency
syndrome-defining conditions. Twenty percent of LTS had CD4 counts
500 cells/mm and no immune deficiency syndrome-defining
conditions.
Conclusions. Pediatric LTS were in variable stages of disease progression. The proportion of children within each CD4 strata did not differ by mode of acquisition of infection. Increased CD4 counts were inversely proportional to age. Only 20% of pediatric LTS had minimal to no disease progression. HIV, pediatric long-term survivors, slow disease progression.