PBL Sessions: AIDS


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Page 8

Further History:

The baby has undetectable HIV1 DNA by PCR at 1 day of life. Celeste decides not to breast feed the baby. The baby is started on a 6 week course of zidovudine therapy. However, the baby has detectable HIV1 DNA at 1 month of life.

At 6 months postpartum, Celeste's HIV1-RNA level is 25 copies/mL. Her CD4 count is 320/microliter.

Figure 5: HIV - drug interaction

Tasks

  • What do these findings indicate?

  • What therapy, if any, needs to be given?

  • Why was an HIV1-RNA viral load test not used for the baby?

  • What hypotheses explain these findings?

  • Explain your reasoning for the hypotheses you choose.

  • Can you explain the pathophysiology of HIV infection?

Stop !! Complete discussions and tasks before moving to the next page.