title: Medical care of pregnant women in eastern North Carolina with human immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the time lag between the diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review of 105 deliveries from HIV-positive women from January 2001 to June 2009 was undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred five HIV-infected pregnant women were identified and studied. Forty-eight women were diagnosed during the prenatal visit: 21 in the first trimester, 17 in the second trimester, and 10 in the third trimester. Forty-five had undetectable viral loads at delivery. The time lag between diagnosis of HIV and initiation of ART was 1 month for 31% and 3 months for 28.5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The time lag between diagnosis of HIV and initiation of ART was more than 1 month in 69% of the expectant mothers, which may have contributed to the failure in viral suppression. Implementation of HIV screening and a more effective means of communication between prenatal and HIV clinics are required to help reduce vertical transmission of the virus to neonates.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine/Division of Infectious Diseases, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA.
authors: Shradha
authors: S
authors: Pokharel
authors: Ramzy H
authors: RH
authors: Rimawi
authors: Dawd
authors: D
authors: Siraj
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D019562:Viral Load