Abstract
The effect of HIV on pregnancy, the rate of perinatal transmission, and a description of perinatally acquired HIV infection are important aspects of the natural history of HIV. Pregnant women with a history of drug abuse were examined and followed with their children. 56 pregnant women on methadone were approached for study recruitment, with 42 women consenting to participate. 35 women have completed their pregnancies with 33 liveborn infants, 1 spontaneous and 1 induced abortion. Of the 35 women, 14 were seropositive (SP) and 21 were seronegative (SN). The SP and SN women were similar in age, ethnicity, smoking during pregnancy, gravidity, parity, education, income, and types of drugs used. Of the women who had at least 1 post-partum visit, 81% of SP and 36% of SN women have been reported to have at least 1 of the following: unexplained fevers, weight loss, sweats and/or diarrhea and/or significant adenopathy. The gestational age of children born to SP vs SN women was 37.6 vs 38.6 weeks while the birth weight of babies born to SP vs SN woman was 2612 vs 2877 g. Perinatal complications in the infants were more common in those born to SP vs SN women (2.3 vs 1.5 complications /infant), more of the SP vs SN women had pregnancy complications (78 vs 41%), and the mean Apgar scores were lower in children bom to SP vs SN women(6.8/7.9 vs 8.0/8.9). Of the 14 children born to SP mothers (X followup=4.7 mos) 1 has died of AIDS and 2 have symptoms suggestive of HIV disease. Expansion and continued followup of this cohort will better define the natural history of HIV infection in pregnant women and their children.
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Willoughby, A., Holman, S., Mendez, H. et al. THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HIV INFECTION IN PREGNANT WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 263 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00575
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00575