HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Star, J. Articles by Carpenter, C. C. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Star, J. Articles by Carpenter, C. C. J.

SHOULD WOMEN WITH HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS BE DELIVERED BY CESAREAN?

From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Divisions of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Obstetric Medicine, Brown University, Women and Infants Hospital, and the Department of Medicine, Brown University, Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island.

Address reprint requests to: Jami Star, MD, Women and Infants Hospital, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, 101 Dudley Street, Providence, RI 02905, E-mail: jstar{at}wihri.org

Vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) accounts for most new pediatric cases in the United States. With the routine use of zidovudine in the antepartum, intrapartum, and postnatal periods, transmission of HIV from mother to infant has decreased significantly during the past 5 years. Most transmission occurs during labor and delivery, so the effect of mode of delivery recently has been investigated. Several studies support cesarean to further reduce infection in newborns. However, those studies are limited by lack of data on concomitant effects of viral load and effects of combined antiretroviral therapy. There also might be increased operative morbidity in this population. Therefore, we suggest caution in establishing cesarean as a standard for delivery of HIV-infected women.