title: Varicella zoster meningitis in a pregnant woman with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
abstract: Between 6000 and 7000 women in the United States infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) give birth annually. It is well known that HIV-related immunosuppression significantly increases the risk for acquiring opportunistic infections (OIs). However, there is limited information regarding the relationship of pregnancy in the setting of HIV/AIDS infection, subsequent development of OIs, and maternal and fetal outcomes. A pregnant 36-year-old woman with AIDS was diagnosed with varicella zoster meningitis. Weight-based therapy with acyclovir was initiated with clinical improvement in symptoms. Care of a pregnant HIV-infected patient with an OI poses a unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for clinicians. Early diagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment may provide an opportunity to improve both maternal and fetal outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brown Medical School/Women & Infants' Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, Rhode Island 02905, USA. ajayakrishnan@WIHRI.org
authors.forename: Asha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jayakrishnan
authors.forename: Roxanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vrees
authors.forename: Brenna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007751:Labor, Induced; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000212:Acyclovir