[Monitoring of pregnancy in HIV seropositive women]

Abstract

The management of pregnancy in a seropositive woman implies awareness of the effects of the disease on pregnancy and, inversely, of the pregnancy on HIV infection. It is important to be aware of the risk of materno-fetal transmission, as well as of the recent positive results of therapeutic trials of AZT during pregnancy regarding the prevention of such transmission. This quite stereotyped management approach is relatively simple, both clinically and regarding laboratory investigations, and in particular when the patient is at an asymptomatic stage of the disease. Obstetric management is, for the present, the same as in normal women. It is important to stress the need for specialised management of the newborn infant and of taking advantage of the postpartum period to ensure future effective contraception.