Abstract 211

Aim. To investigate the effects of the maternal prophylaxis with AZT on growth in the first 12 months of life in uninfected infants. Subjects and methods. 32 term-uninfected infants (17 M, 15 F) born to HIV-seropositive women were subdivided into two groups, T, 20 infants whose mothers received AZT prophylaxis during pregnancy, and NT, 12 infants whose mothers did not receive any treatment. The maternal clinical status and the immunologic indices were similar in T and NT mothers, who freely decided whether to undergo prophylatic treatment or not after being informed about the 076 study results (N Engl J Med 1994; 331:1173). Infants' weight-for-age (WA) and length-for-age (LA) z scores (WHO reference data, ANTHRO software) have been evaluated at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months of age. Statistics: non-parametric tests. Results. WA at birth was higher in NT vs T (P=0.10), with no differences in LA. In the 0-12 month period the T gained 0.68 z in WA (SE 0.28, P=0.03) and 0.53 z in LA (SE 0.44, P=0.10) vs the NT, resulting in a higher LA z at 12 months (P=0.03). Conclusions. The maternal prophylaxis with AZT is associated with lower WA values at birth and to a major rate of growth in the first year, with positive effects on LA achievement at 12 months.