Working to improve pregnancy outcomes
Cadman, J.
Gmhc Treatment Issues the Gay Men's Health Crisis Newsletter of Experimental Aids Therapies 12(7-8): 13-14
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 1077-1824 PMID: 11365619 Document Number: 491023
Research to eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission was a highlight at the 12th World AIDS Conference. ACTG 076 demonstrated that a three-part course of AZT can reduce the vertical transmission rate by 67 percent. Studies assessing the effectiveness of Cesarean section (C-section) deliveries are inconclusive, although it appears that surgical delivery, prior to the rupture of membranes, reduces transmission rates. Studies on HIV positive pregnant women, who did or did not receive drug treatment, and had elective C-sections, emergency C-sections, or vaginal deliveries are compared. Combination therapy may be the most effective treatment for the mother, but there is not enough data to judge the safety of these treatments on an infant. Treatment risks for newborns are addressed.