title: The relationship between asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infection and the prevalence and severity of anemia in pregnant Malawian women.
abstract: The relationship between asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and blood hemoglobin (Hb) concentration was examined in anemic pregnant women from a population with high prevalence of both anemia (60%) and HIV seropositivity (30%). Sera from 155 pregnant women with Hb levels < 10.5 g/dL were tested for HIV status, C-reactive protein (CRP), vitamin B12, retinol, and folate levels. The observed prevalence of HIV seropositivity in the group of women with anemia was 47.1% (95% confidence interval=39.2-55.0%). This is significantly higher than the HIV prevalence in the whole population (30.1%; P < 0.001). Median Hb values in HIV-seropositive and -seronegative women with anemia were 8.40 g/dL and 8.95 g/dL, respectively. Serum retinol, vitamin B12, and folate levels were not significantly different in the HIV-seropositive and -seronegative groups. In women who were HIV-seropositive with normal levels of CRP, a median decrease in Hb of 0.4 g/dL was observed. For those with serum CRP levels > 25 mg/l, the median decrease in Hb was 0.7 g/dL. Results indicate that asymptomatic HIV infection is associated with increased prevalence and severity of anemia in pregnancy in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Malawi, College of Medicine, Blantyre.
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: van den Broek
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Neilson
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004920:Erythropoiesis; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood*; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins