Brief Report: Consequences of Presentation With Advanced HIV Disease in Pregnancy: Data From a National Study in Italy

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2015 Dec 1;70(4):452-5. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000000791.

Abstract

Among 469 women with a diagnosis of HIV in pregnancy, 74 (15.8%) presented with less than 200 CD4 cells per cubic millimeter. The only variable significantly associated with this occurrence was African origin (odds ratio: 2.22, 95% confidence intervals: 1.32 to 3.75, P = 0.003). Four women with low CD4 (5.6%), compared with none with higher CD4 counts, had severe AIDS-defining conditions (P < 0.001) during pregnancy or soon after delivery, and one transmitted HIV to the newborn. Early preterm delivery (<32 weeks) was significantly more frequent with low CD4 (6.2% vs. 1.4%, P = 0.015). An earlier access to HIV testing, particularly among immigrants of African origin, can prevent severe HIV-related morbidity.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Delayed Diagnosis*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis*
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / pathology
  • HIV Infections / transmission
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Obstetric Labor, Premature
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / diagnosis*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / pathology
  • Prevalence
  • Young Adult