SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in adolescents living with perinatally acquired HIV

TL;DR

This study examines SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in adolescents with HIV, finding that over half had antibodies despite few reporting prior symptoms.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence in HIV-positive adolescents.

Findings

Over half of HIV-positive adolescents had positive SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Only one participant reported a prior history of possible symptomatic infection.

Abstract

Data on children and adolescents with HIV and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) co-infection are limited. Clinical and antibody data related to COVID-19 infection in adolescents living with perinatally acquired HIV (ALPHIV) and originally enrolled in the Children with HIV Early Antiretroviral Therapy (CHER) study were collected. We present a descriptive analysis of 53 ALPHIV who were tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Just over half (53%) of the adolescents tested had positive anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with only one participant describing a prior history of possible symptomatic infection.

The study contributes to the understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination practices in HIV-positive adolescents.