OBJECTIVETo analyze the outcome among HIV-infected children following antiretroviral treatment in Shandong province.

METHODSFrom the national AIDS antiviral treatment database during April 2009 and December 2013, 50 children who were according to antiviral treatment in Shandong province were classified as the cases. Regular follow-up observation and test were conducted among children under antiretroviral therapy before treatment,0.5(th), 1(th), 2(th), 3(th), 6(th), 9(th), 12(th) months after treatment, and then one time after every 3 months follow-up after one year. The height and weight of the children under antiretroviral therapy and normal children (2010 national student physical health survey results)were compared during different times. And the height and weight of the follow-up period of situation, the CD4(+)T cell count and viral load, regular physical examination results, the incidence of opportunistic infections were compared with baseline data.

RESULTSAmong the 50 children under antiviral therapy, male accounted for 54.0% (27/50) , female 46.0% (23/50) , the youngest was 2 years of age, the oldest was 15 years old, and all of them were transmitted by the mother-to-child route and none received mother-to-child prevention. The shortest treatment time lasted five months, the longest 61 months, with a median 25 months. The height of the baseline, 12(th), 24(th), 36(th) months after antiviral treatment were ( 111.9 ± 23.4), (118.1 ± 20.9), (127.1 ± 13.9), (135.4 ± 10.2)cm, and weigh were ( 20.6 ± 8.7), (23.8 ± 6.3), (27.8 ± 7.2), (30.7 ± 5.5) kg, respectively. The height and weight of the treated children were higher than those in the baseline (P < 0.05), but lower than those among the children without HIV infection. The CD4(+)T lymphocytes level of the baseline, 3(th), 6(th), 12(th), 24(th), 36(th) months after antiviral treatment were 224.0, 279.5, 465.0, 581.0, 640.0, 728.0/µl, the CD4(+)T lymphocytes level after antiviral treatment were higher than the baseline (P < 0.05). Hemoglobin and AST were significantly different between children received treatment after 24 months and those in the baseline (P < 0.05), baseline and 24(th) months after treatment the hemoglobin value were (106.6 ± 22.2), (125.2 ± 5.8), and the AST measurements were (42.1 ± 23.1), (23.4 ± 15.6). Baseline and 12(th), 24(th) months after treatment, the median of viral load were 10 000.0, 105.0,0.0 copies/ml , and the ratio of viral load ≤ 400 copies/ml were 50% (4/8) , 65% (22/34) , 88% (14/16) , respectively, the results of viral load had significant difference among 12(th), 24(th) months after antiviral treatment and baseline (P < 0.05). The incidence of opportunistic infections was 62% (31/50) before treatment, and 12% (6/50) after the antiviral therapy.

CONCLUSIONAntiviral therapy can effectively improve the immunity and reduce the incidence of opportunistic infections which is helpful to improve the quality of life among HIV-infected children following antiretroviral treatment in Shandong province.