|
pubmed:otherAbstract |
PIP: Since an estimated 1-2 million heterosexual women in Africa are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), maternal-fetal transmission of this virus is a serious issue. At this point, the only accurate data concern the high level of virus transmission from infected mothers to the newborn (at least 40%) and the severity of infection in infants. About 50% of infected infants develop acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, generally at 6 months of age, and die by the age of 3-4 years. There have been no studies large enough to determine the time of HIV transmission--antenatal, prepartum, or postpartum? Also unclear at this point are the consequences of pregnancy for the immunological status for women infected with HIV. Amniocentesis, cord blood punction, and trophoblastic biopsy are potential means of diagnosing HIV infection prenatally; however, there is a risk of infecting the fetus by the techniques themselves, a danger of false negative results and a likelihood that HIV infection can occur later in pregnancy after the tests have been completed.
|
