title: Perinatal outcome in HIV-infected pregnant women.
abstract: We have observed 74 HIV-seropositive and 48 HIV-seronegative drug-addicted women and 22 HIV-seropositive nondrug-addicted pregnant women during pregnancy and we report their perinatal outcome. 8 out of 96 HIV-seropositive patients had hematological signs of immunodeficiency and 2 of these patients were symptomatic belonging to CDC class III. We recorded 2 early and 3 late spontaneous abortions, no intrauterine fetal death and 3 neonatal deaths. Seropositive patients had 3 malformed babies, seronegative patients had 1. All these women had a high incidence of premature delivery and intrauterine fetal growth retardation: seropositive patients had a higher incidence of fetuses small for gestational age and a lower incidence of preterm delivery compared to seronegative patients, but the difference was not statistically significant. The incidence of malformation was comparable to the general population: 3 malformed babies were born to HIV-positive drug-addicted mothers, and 1 to a seronegative drug-addicted mother. These findings do not support the hypothesis of a direct detrimental effect of HIV on perinatal outcome. Consequences of fetal exposure to maternal HIV infection involve mostly postnatal life and development of acquired immunodeficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milano Medical School, Ospedale S. Paolo, Italy.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Semprini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ravizza
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bucceri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vucetich
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pardi
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders