HIV Infection in Only One Infant of Dizygotic Twins

This case study involves dizygotic twins that are discordant for HIV-infection. Mother's viral load 4 weeks prior to delivery was 2140. Mother received IV AZT during labor and infants received AZT, nevirapine, and 3TC. Twin A was homozygous at two HLA loci, while Twin B was heterozygous. The authors theorize that the homozygocity of Twin A made her much more susceptible to HIV infection than Twin B as all other factors were the same.

Citation:
Neubert J, Enczmann J, Krux F, Hower M, Borkhardt A, Laws HJ. Dizygotic twins discordant for HIV-1 despite vertical transmission prophylaxis: was human leukocyte antigen homozygocity of disadvantage to the infected twin? AIDS. 2010 Sept 10;24(14):2295-6.

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Abstract