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Ten years' experience of HIV positive pregnancies at the RVI, Newcastle Upon Tyne
  1. CF Rosales,
  2. C Scott,
  3. M Murdoch,
  4. E Michael
  1. Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Abstract

Introduction The management of HIV positive women in pregnancy aims to reduce the risk of transmission to the baby without compromising maternal and neonatal health. Antenatal screening for HIV was introduced to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in April 2000. Since then the screening rate has increased from 86% to 95%.

Methods The authors present data for all HIV positive women in our unit who booked from April 2000 and delivered by April 2010.

Results There were 81 babies delivered to 70 HIV positive mothers over 10 years. 26 of these (37%) women were diagnosed on antenatal screening. All women except one received highly active antiretroviral therapy during their pregnancy. There were 57 babies delivered by caesarean section, 24 by vaginal delivery. 33 (41%) of the babies were planned for vaginal delivery. Of the 27 deliveries before 2006, 5 were planned for vaginal delivery (19%) and of the 54 deliveries from 2006, 28 (52%) were planned for vaginal delivery. 19 women had viral loads of more than 50 copies per ml. at time of delivery. All babies were exclusively artificially fed. There were two cases of mother to baby transmission.

Discussion The authors experienced a growing number of pregnant HIV positive women and increasing rates of vaginal delivery. The mother to child transmission rate has not increased following the increased number of vaginal delivery.

Final results, including data on use of intravenous zidovudine prior to delivery, are awaited in April.

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