title: Pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension are less common in HIV infected women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension are less common in HIV infected women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective cohort study was performed in the Western Cape province of South Africa. HIV negative and positive pregnant women without chronic renal or chronic hypertensive disease were continuously recruited. During the study period HIV positive patients received either mono- or triple (HAART) antiretroviral therapy for prevention of vertical transmission or maternal care. Only routine clinical management was performed. The development of hypertensive disease during pregnancy was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1093 HIV positive and 1173 HIV negative cases were identified during pregnancy and evaluated again after delivery. Significantly fewer cases of pre-eclampsia n=35 (3.2%) were recorded in the HIV positive group than in the HIV negative group, n=57 (4.9%) (p=0.045; OR 0.65 95% CI 0.42-0.99). There were also significantly fewer cases of gestational hypertension recorded in the HIV positive group compared to the HIV negative group (p=0.026; OR 0.53 95% CI 0.30-0.94). Multiple logistic regression analysis confirmed the reductive effect of HIV on pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension are less common in HIV infected women being managed with mono- or triple anti-retroviral therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa. Electronic address: drh@sun.ac.za.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Paarl Hospital, South Africa.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gebhardt
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Theron
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa.
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grové
keywords: AIDS; HAART; HIV; Hypertension; Pre-eclampsia; Pregnancy