[Prophylactic cesarean section and HIV seropositive patients].
OBJECTIVE
HIV infection among children is essentially related to perinatal transmission. It seems the contamination occurs late in the pregnancy or during the labor. The benefits of cesarean section in HIV-infected women has to be examined.


METHODS
A retrospective survey of all deliveries of 292 HIV-infected women, of the newborns and of the impact of different ways of delivery on transmission risks. 164 women had a pregnancy lasting more than 28 weeks, 27 underwent a cesarean section.


RESULTS
22.2% of patients who underwent a cesarean section contaminated their child, 25.2% among vaginal deliveries. No significant association was found between HIV transmission and delivery mode.


CONCLUSIONS
We outline the necessary elements for the conduct of a conclusive efficacy trial of operative versus vaginal delivery.
Cohen
M
M
Départment de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, Centre Hospitalier La Grave, Toulouse.
Berrebi
A
A
Tricoire
J
J
Puel
J
J
D002585:Cesarean Section; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000601:surgery* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000601:surgery*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors