Chitinase-3-like 1 is associated with stunting and developmental delay in HIV exposed but uninfected Ugandan children

Chronic systemic inflammation may affect linear growth and neurodevelopment in children who are HIV exposed but uninfected (cHEU). We examined plasma concentrations of neutrophil activation marker chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) levels in 153 Ugandan cHEU. At 18 months of age, CHI3L1 levels were inversely correlated with height-for-age z-scores (τB = -0.17, p=0.0035) and a normalized developmental score (τB = -0.20, p=0.00027). CHI3L1 appears to be a marker of adverse growth and development in cHEU.