II. Epidemiology
- Women with AIDS are young: >80% are between ages 18-44 years
- HIV Prevalence in U.S. obstetrics patients: 1-5%
- Risks of vertical transmission
- HIV Viral Load <1000 copies per ml: 2% transmission
- HIV Viral Load >1000 copies/ml
- Untreated woman with HIV: 25% transmission
- AZT used intrapartum: 5-8% transmission
- AZT and Ceserean delivery: 2% transmission
- Perinatal HIV Infection
- Neonatal HIV has been reduced 95% since the 1990s in the U.S.
- Of the 5000 infants born to HIV mothers in U.S. per year, 73 infants acquired HIV Infection (2017)
- Taylor (2017) JAMA Pediatr 171(5): 435-42 [PubMed]
- Racial discrepancy in Perinatally acquired HIV in United States (2009, CDC)
- Black patients: 9.9 in 100,000 live births
- Hispanic patients: 1.7 in 100,000 live births
- White patients: 0.1 in 100,000 live births
- http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/gender/pregnantwomen/index.html
III. Risk Factors: Perinatal HIV Transmission Factors
- Risks of transmissions (13-39% with Zidovudine)
- Higher levels of maternal viremia (>1000 copies/ml)
- HIV core Antigenemia
- Lower maternal CD4 Count
- Advanced clinical HIV disease
- Maternal immune factors and Viral factors
- Primary HIV Infection during pregnancy
- Chorioamnionitis
- Other Sexually Transmitted Disease
- Unprotected intercourse during pregnancy
- "Hard drug" use during pregnancy
- Invasive monitoring (e.g. fetal scalp electrodes)
- Premature birth or low birthweight infant
- Rupture of Membranes
- Artificial Rupture of Membranes
- Delivery more than 4 hours after ruptured membranes
- Instrumental deliveries (i.e. forceps or vacuum)
- DeLee Suction
- Vaginal Delivery
- Advanced maternal age
- First born of twins born to an HIV infected mother
- Factors that decrease risk of transmission
- Higher levels of neutralizing HIV Antibody titers
- Antibodies to certain Epitopes of GP 120
- Elective Cesarean Section
- Zidovudine (AZT)
- Less invasive monitoring and intrapartum procedures
- Higher levels of neutralizing HIV Antibody titers
IV. Mechanisms: Vertical Transmission (Maternal to Child)
- Responsible for 90% of Pediatric HIV cases
- In Utero transmission (30%)
- Detected by PCR or Blood Culture
- Cord blood can not be used
- Results obtained in <48 hours
- Intrauterine HIV Transmission occurs early pregnancy
- Study of 124 HIV+ obstetric patients over 4 years
- Spontaneous Abortions 14 (11%) between 8-32 weeks
- HIV Positive on autopsy: 7 of 14 fetuses (50%)
- Reference
- Worse outcome then intrapartum transmission
- Associated with rapid HIV progression
- Newborn predictors of rapid course
- Hepatosplenomegaly
- Lymphadenopathy
- CD4+ Lymphocytes <30%
- HIV PCR positive within first week of life
- Mayaux (1996) JAMA 275:606-10 [PubMed]
- Detected by PCR or Blood Culture
- Intrapartum Transmission (70%)
- Mechanism
- Direct contact with maternal genital secretions
- Maternal-fetal micro transfusions
- Occur during labor as in Hepatitis B
- Possible ascending infections
- Similar mechanism as Group B Streptococcus
- Increased transmission if Membranes Ruptured > 4h
- Infants subsequent Cultures
- Negative Culture or PCR within first 48 hours
- Positive Culture within 7-90 days after birth
- Increased intrapartum transmission risk factors
- Women not on HIV Antiretroviral therapy (or <4 weeks of treatment before delivery)
- Advanced Maternal HIV disease
- HIV RNA load >50 copies/ml (insufficient HIV suppression, indicating Cesarean Section)
- HIV Viral Load >1000 copies/ml is associated with highest risk of vertical transmission
- First twin delivered
- Mechanism
- Postpartum transmission
- Breast Feeding is contraindicated in Maternal HIV
V. Labs
- Prenatal HIV Testing should be encouraged for all women
- Universal HIV Screening for all women as part of Prenatal Labs
- If HIV positive, start Antiretroviral therapy at time of diagnosis
- Re-test HIV Negative women in third trimester if high risk (e.g. IVDA, STD risk, sex work)
- Expedited HIV Test for HIV status unknown in active labor presentation
- If HIV positive, start intrapartum Zidovudine for mother and Antiretrovirals for infant on delivery
- Universal HIV Screening for all women as part of Prenatal Labs
- See Pediatric HIV (for testing in the infant)
- Viral load and CD4 Count baseline and in each trimester
- PPD in second trimester
VI. Management: General Measures
- Treat all Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Prevent opportunistic infections
- Diagnose Maternal HIV early
- Delivery within 4 hours of Rupture of Membranes
- Delivery by elective, scheduled Cesarean Section at 38 weeks
- NSVD may be considered if viral load <1000 copies/ml
- Cesarean Section does not reduce transmission if
- Labor starts prior to ceserean
- Spontaneous Rupture of Membranes
- Use best clinical evidence to estimate gestation
- Avoid Amniocentesis
- Use prophylactic Antibiotics during Ceserean Section
- Most indicated in lower CD4 Counts
- Lactation is contraindicated (risk of HIV Transmission)
- Update Vaccinations as needed
VII. Management: Anti-Retroviral Therapy
- Treat HIV-infected pregnant women and infants!
- Mother on Antiretroviral drugs after 14 weeks
- NIH recommends same treatment as non-pregnant
- Consider multiple Retroviral drugs
- Includes the use of Protease Inhibitors
- (1999) MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 47(RR-5):1-41 [PubMed]
- Intravenous Zidovudine (ZDV) during labor
- Infants treated in first 6 weeks of life
- Mother on Antiretroviral drugs after 14 weeks
- Decreases likelihood of maternal-infant transmission
- Zidovudine (ZDV) reduces overall transmission 25% to 8%
- Peripartum ZDV reduces transmission by 30%
-
Zidovudine (ZDV) Protocol for HIV positive Mothers
- Antepartum (start at 14 weeks gestation)
- Consider multi-Antiretroviral drug therapy
- Zidovudine (AZT) 100 mg PO 5 times per day
- Intrapartum
- Indicated for HIV RNA Load >1000 copies/ml at delivery (or unknown viral load)
- Load: AZT 2 mg/kg over 1 hour
- Maintenance: AZT 1 mg/kg/hour until delivery
- Newborn
- See Pediatric HIV for Newborn HIV Prophylaxis protocol
- HIV Prophylaxis started within 6 hours of delivery
- Other protocols
- Nevirapine appears more effective than AZT
- Nevirapine protocols were being developed as of 20 years ago, but ZDV continues to be mainstay
- Guay (1999) Lancet 354:795-802 [PubMed]
- Nevirapine appears more effective than AZT
- Antepartum (start at 14 weeks gestation)
VIII. Resources
- See HIV Resources
-
Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry
- Phone: 800-258-4263
IX. References
- (1997) Int J Gynaecol Obstet 57:73-80 [PubMed]
- Krist (2001) Am Fam Physician 63(1):107-122 [PubMed]
- Krist (2002) Am Fam Physician 65(10):2049-56 [PubMed]
- Lindegren (1999) JAMA 282:531-8 [PubMed]
- Landesman (1996) N Engl J Med 334:1617-23 [PubMed]
- Vijayan (2021) Am Fam Physician 104(1): 58-62 [PubMed]