HIV returns in 'Mississippi baby'; infant whose virus disappeared for 4 years now diagnosed

The famous infant born with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and given antiretroviral medicine 30 hours after birth now shows detectable levels of the virus in his or her bloodstream. The infant, known as the “Mississippi Baby,” astounded doctors by staying in remission for more than four years, Medical Daily reported.

When the child’s mother, who was HIV-positive but not taking antiretroviral medicine, first gave birth doctors administered medicine to the baby. After several days, doctors confirmed the virus’s presence. The child began liquid, triple-drug therapy. But after nearly two years, clinical follow-up showed undetectable HIV levels (less than 20 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood).

The initial prognosis seemed good. Plus, no more than a year after the Mississippi Baby’s two-year follow-up, a second baby was born in Los Angeles with similar results. Quick, hard treatment was working. Before the virus had a chance to replicate, doctors were cutting its legs out from under it.

In addition to the massive viral presence in the toddler’s blood, doctors also discovered a decrease in CD4+ T-cells, active components in a well-oiled immune system. After four years, retroviral therapy has now resumed.

The big question that emerges from all this, of course, is: What happened? What kept the virus dormant for so long, and what made it reappear out of the blue?

"The fact that this child was able to remain off antiretroviral treatment for two years and maintain quiescent virus for that length of time is unprecedented. Typically, when treatment is stopped, HIV levels rebound within weeks, not years" said Dr. Deborah Persaud, professor of infectious diseases at the John Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore.

Now doctors direct their attention to determining whether the period of sustained remission in the absence of therapy can be prolonged even further.

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