[The Aids problem in pregnant women--a challenge to the obstetrician].

Nine pregnant women with the AIDS problem were under treatment and care at the Department of Gynaecology of the University of Berlin at Charlottenburg during 1985. Of these, seven had HTLV-III antibodies only, whereas one woman showed additional clinical signs such as lymphoadenopathy and opportunistic infections; another woman developed exanthemas during pregnancy that pointed to a possible manifestation of AIDS. The increasing incidence in our clinic of pregnant women infected with or actually suffering from AIDS is due to the fact that for several years we have been conducting heroin withdrawal programmes in pregnant women. It must be born in mind, however, that generally more and more women outside the high-risk groups covered by anamnesis are being infected with HTLV-III. Screening tests for HTLV-III can help to clarify matters and make it possible to care adequately for the patient and to guarantee the obstetric team an appropriate management of the risk of infection. However, it must be considered as a minimum demand to be made on the obstetrician to conduct tests for HTLV-III antibodies in women of the high-risk groups (heroin addicts, prostitutes, blood transfusion recipients, fathers at risk). Based on update knowledge, the authors supply pointers to a more realistic information of pregnant women. Suggestions are advanced in respect of care during pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium.