Interactions of human immunodeficiency virus infection and pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the influence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on pregnancy outcome and the effect of pregnancy on the short-term course of HIV infection.

METHODS

Pregnant women with identified risk factors for HIV infection but without AIDS were tested serologically for HIV antibodies. Seropositive women were compared to seronegative patients with similar risk factors and demographic characteristics at enrollment, at delivery, and 6-8 weeks postpartum. One hundred one seropositive and 97 seronegative subjects were evaluated for symptoms or physical manifestations of HIV infection; evidence of immune dysfunction; historical, physical, or laboratory evidence of related infections; and maternal and neonatal outcome. Both groups were compared to the entire obstetric population delivering at the University of Maryland Hospital during 1 year.

RESULTS

There was a significant reduction in reported risk behaviors in both groups during pregnancy as compared to the period before pregnancy (P < .001). The majority of women in both groups were asymptomatic, but seropositive women were more likely to have a history or physical evidence of condylomata (13 versus 4%; P < .05) and higher temperatures on admission to the labor suite (98.6 +/- 1.0 versus 98.3 +/- 0.8F; P = .02). Seropositive women were not at greater risk for antepartum medical complications. Only one woman developed an AIDS-defining opportunistic infection. Although hematologic indices in seropositive women were abnormal, these did not progress over the course of pregnancy. At delivery, seropositive women were more likely to receive antibiotics (25 versus 10%; P = .006) and less likely to have an episiotomy (25 versus 40%; P = .03), but obstetric outcome was unaffected. Neonatal status was independent of antibody status.

CONCLUSION

Our findings support a growing body of evidence that pregnancy has no discernible effect on the early progression of HIV disease in asymptomatic women, and infection does not influence perinatal outcome.