Relationship of prenatal diagnosis and pregnancy termination to overall infant mortality in Canada

CONTEXT: Prenatal diagnosis and termination of affected pregnancies can prevent infant deaths due to congenital anomalies, but an effect at the population level has not been shown. OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of recent changes in congenital anomaly-related fetal and infant deaths on overall population-based infant mortality. DESIGN, SETTING, AND SUBJECTS: Birth cohort-based study of all live births, stillbirths, and infant deaths in Canada (excluding Ontario) for 1991-1998. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cause-specific infant mortality rates and gestational age-specific fetal death rates. RESULTS: The birth cohort-based infant mortality rate fluctuated between 6.4 and 6.1 per 1000 live births between 1991 and 1995, then dropped to 5.4 per 1000 in 1996 and 5.5 per 1000 in 1997. The rate of infant death from congenital anomalies was stable between 1991 and 1995 but declined by 21% (95% confidence interval, 19%-32%) from 1.86 per 1000 in 1995 to 1.47 per 1000 in 1996 and 1997. Fetal deaths due to pregnancy termination at 20 to 23 weeks' gestation increased dramatically in 1994, while fetal deaths due to congenital anomalies at 20 to 21 weeks increased in 1995 and subsequently. Provinces/territories with high rates of fetal death due to pregnancy termination/congenital anomalies at 20 to 23 weeks had fewer infant deaths due to congenital anomalies. CONCLUSION: A large decrease in infant deaths due to congenital anomalies was associated with the most recent decline in infant mortality in Canada, suggesting that increases in prenatal diagnosis and pregnancy termination for congenital anomalies are related to decreases in overall infant mortality at the population level.     

Trends in twin birth outcomes and prenatal care utilization in the United States, 1981-1997

CONTEXT: Multiple births account for an increasing percentage of all low-birth-weight infants, preterm births, and infant mortality in the United States. Since 1981, the percentage of women with multiple births who received intensive prenatal care (defined as a high number of visits, exceeding the recommendation of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists by approximately 1 SD beyond the mean number of visits for women initiating care within each trimester) has increased significantly. OBJECTIVES: To explore the hypothesis that more aggressive management of twin-birth pregnancies may be associated with changes in birth outcomes in this population. DESIGN, SETTING, AND SUBJECTS: Cross-sectional and trend analysis of data from the National Center for Health Statistics' birth and infant death records for all twin births occurring in the United States between 1981 and 1997, excluding those with missing or inconsistent data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Trends in preterm birth, low birth weight, preterm and term small-for-gestational-age (SGA) births, and infant mortality, by level of prenatal care utilization. RESULTS: The preterm birth rate for twins increased from 40.9% in 1981 to 55.0% in 1997. The percentage of low-birth-weight infants increased from 51.0% to 54.0%. The preterm SGA rate also increased from 11.9% to 14.1%, while the term SGA rate decreased from 30.7% to 20.5%. For women with intensive prenatal care utilization, the preterm birth rate increased from 35.1% to 55.8%, compared with an increase from 50.6% to 59.2% among women with only adequate use. Twin preterm deliveries involving either induction or first cesarean delivery also increased from 21.9% to 27.3% between 1989-1991 and 1995-1997. The twin infant mortality rate for women with intensive prenatal care use declined between 1983 and 1996 and remained lower than the overall twin infant mortality rate. CONCLUSIONS: An apparent increase in medical interventions in the management of twins may result in the seeming incongruity of more prenatal care and more preterm births; however, these data suggest that women with intensive prenatal care utilization also have a lower infant mortality rate. JAMA. 2000;283:335-341     

Impact of folic acid fortification of the US food supply on the occurrence of neural tube defects.

CONTEXT: Daily consumption of 400 microg of folic acid before conception and during early pregnancy dramatically reduces the occurrence of neural tube defects (NTDs). Before food fortification, however, only an estimated 29% of US reproductive-aged women were taking a supplement containing 400 microg of folic acid daily. The US Food and Drug Administration authorized addition of folic acid to enriched grain products in March 1996, with compliance mandatory by January 1998. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of food fortification with folic acid on NTD birth prevalence. DESIGN, SETTING, AND POPULATION: National study of birth certificate data for live births to women in 45 US states and Washington, DC, between January 1990 and December 1999. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Birth certificate reports of spina bifida and anencephaly before fortification (October 1995 through December 1996) compared with after mandatory fortification (October 1998 through December 1999). RESULTS: The birth prevalence of NTDs reported on birth certificates decreased from 37.8 per 100 000 live births before fortification to 30.5 per 100 000 live births conceived after mandatory folic acid fortification, representing a 19% decline (prevalence ratio [PR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75-0.87). During the same period, NTD birth prevalence declined from 53.4 per 100 000 to 46.5 per 100 000 (PR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.64-1.18) for women who received only third-trimester or no prenatal care. CONCLUSIONS: A 19% reduction in NTD birth prevalence occurred following folic acid fortification of the US food supply. However, factors other than fortification may have contributed to this decline.     

The prevention of Down's syndrome in the south western region of England 1975-1985

Cytogenetic prenatal screening for Down's syndrome in the South West Region of England from 1975 to 1985 was reviewed. The use of amniocentesis increased, and for the years 1981 to 1985 averaged 29.4% of women 35 years or over at their estimated date of delivery. 58 pregnancies were terminated after karyotyping of amniotic fluid cells confirmed trisomy 21. 385,440 live births were born in the region, 452 with Down's syndrome, giving a live birth incidence of 1 in 853. The effective impact of prenatal screening was calculated at an overall 8.3% reduction in Down's syndrome live births, but for the years 1981 to 1985 this rose to 11.3%. In spite of the introduction of new prenatal screening programmes that are not reliant solely on maternal age, it is predicted that substantial numbers of children with Down's syndrome are likely to be born each year. Adequate medical facilities will still be required for the survivors.     

The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of screening for anal squamous intraepithelial lesions in homosexual and bisexual HIV-positive men.

CONTEXT: Homosexual and bisexual men infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at increased risk for human papillomavirus-related anal neoplasia and anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). OBJECTIVE: To estimate the clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness of screening HIV-positive homosexual and bisexual men foranal squamous intraepithelial lesions (ASIL) and anal SCC. DESIGN: Cost-effectiveness analysis performed from a societal perspective that used reference case recommendations from the Panel on Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine. A state-transition Markov model was developed to calculate lifetime costs, life expectancy, and quality-adjusted life expectancy for no screening vs several screening strategies for ASIL and anal SCC using anal Papanicolaou (Pap) testing at different intervals. Values for incidence, progression, and regression of anal neoplasia; efficacy of screening and treatment; natural history of HIV; health-related quality of life; and costs were obtained from the literature. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Hypothetical cohort of homosexual and bisexual HIV-positive men living in the United States. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Life expectancy, quality-adjusted life expectancy, quality-adjusted years of life saved, lifetime costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. RESULTS: Screening for ASIL increased quality-adjusted life expectancy at all stages of HIV disease. Screening with anal Pap tests every 2 years, beginning in early HIV disease (CD4 cell count >0.50 x 10(9)/L), resulted in a 2.7-month gain in quality-adjusted life expectancy for an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $13,000 per quality-adjusted life year saved. Screening with anal Pap tests yearly provided additional benefit at an incremental cost of $16,600 per quality-adjusted life year saved. If screening was not initiated until later in the course of HIV disease (CD4 cell count <0.50 x 10(9)/L), then yearly Pap test screening was preferred due to the greater amount of prevalent anal disease (cost-effectiveness ratio of less than $25,000 per quality-adjusted life year saved compared with no screening). Screening every 6 months provided little additional benefit over that of yearly screening. Results were most sensitive to the rate of progression of ASIL to anal SCC and the effectiveness of treatment of precancerous lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Screening HIV-positive homosexual and bisexual men for ASIL and anal SCC with anal Pap tests offers quality-adjusted life expectancy benefits at a cost comparable with other accepted clinical preventive interventions.     

艾滋病母婴阻断技术在广西少数民族地区的应用

目的探讨艾滋病母婴阻断技术在来宾地区婚检、产检人群的临床应用提供科学依据。方法利用免费婚检、免费产检平台对婚检、产检人群进行艾滋病（HIV）咨询检测筛查,找出艾滋病（HIV）感染者,对艾滋病（HIV）感染孕妇建议终止妊娠。坚持生育者对其及其所生婴儿进行母婴阻断干预,以避免艾滋病母婴传播发生。结果全市2011—2012年平均婚检率95．87％（90555／94454）、平均产检率98．99％（73591／74341）;婚检、产检人群二年内检出艾滋病（HIV）阳性291例,检出阳性率0．18％。其中检出艾滋病（HIV）阳性孕产妇103例,检出阳性率0．14％。103例孕产妇中,巳终止妊娠18例、分娩活产79例、死胎1例、仍在孕5例。分娩活产孕产妇服用抗病毒药物76例,服药率96．20％,婴儿服用抗病毒药物77例,婴儿系统管理服药率97．47％,死亡婴幼儿1例,失访2例,阳性孕产妇所生婴幼儿产时未检出（HIV）感染者。结论利用婚检、产检平台进行艾滋病咨询检测筛查,可以尽早发现艾滋病（HIV）感染者;对艾滋病（HIV）感染者建立档案并进行跟踪、开展婚育卫生指导、怀孕者建议终止妊娠,可避免艾滋病儿出生;坚持生育者进行艾滋病母婴阻断系统管理,对预防艾滋病母婴传播发生具有非常重要的意义。     

German-Austrian recommendations for HIV-therapy in pregnancy and in HIV-exposed newborn - update 2005

In Germany during the last years about 200-250 HIV infected pregnant women delivered a baby each year, a number that is currently increasing. To determine the HIV-status early in pregnancy voluntary HIV-testing of all pregnant women is recommended in Germany and Austria as part of prenatal care. In those cases, where HIV infection was known during pregnancy, since 1995 the rate of vertical transmission of HIV was reduced to 1-2%. - This low transmission rate has been achieved by the combination of anti-retroviral therapy of pregnant women, caesarean section scheduled before onset of labour, anti-retroviral post exposition prophylaxis in the newborn and refraining from breast-feeding by the HIV infected mother. To keep pace with new results in research, approval of new anti-retroviral drugs and changes in the general treatment recommendations for HIV infected adults, in 1998, 2001 and 2003 an interdisciplinary consensus meeting was held. Gynaecologists, infectious disease specialists, paediatricians, pharmacologists, virologists and members of the German AIDS Hilfe (NGO) were participating in this conference to update the prevention strategies. A third update became necessary in 2005. The updating process was started in January 2005 and was terminated in September 2005. The guidelines provide new recommendations on the indication and the starting point for therapy in pregnancies without complications, drugs and drug combinations to be used preferably in these pregnancies and updated information on adverse effects of anti-retroviral drugs. Also the procedures for different scenarios and risk constellations in pregnancy have been specified again. With these current guidelines in Germany and Austria the low rate of vertical HIV-transmission should be further maintained.     

German-Austrian recommendations for HIV-therapy in pregnancy: update May 2003

In Germany during the past years about 200-250 HIV infected pregnant women delivered a baby per year, a number that is currently increasing. To determine the HIV-status early in pregnancy voluntary HIV-testing of all pregnant women is recommended in Germany and Austria as part of prenatal care. In those cases, where HIV infection was known during pregnancy, since 1995 the rate of vertical transmission of HIV was reduced to 1-2%. - This low transmission rate has been achieved by the combination of anti-retroviral treatment of pregnant women, elective caesarean section before onset of labor, anti-retroviral post exposition prophylaxis in the newborn and refraining from breast-feeding by the HIV infected mother. To keep pace with new results in research, approval of new anti-retroviral drugs and changes in the general treatment recommendations for HIV infected adults, in 1998 and 2001 an interdisciplinary consensus meeting was held. Gynaecologists, infectious disease specialists, pediatricians, pharmacologists, virologists and members of the German AIDS Hilfe (NGO) were participating in this conference to update the prevention strategies. A third update became necessary in 2003. The updating process was started in January 2003 and was terminated in July 2003. The guidelines provide new recommendations on the indication and the starting point for HIV-therapy in pregnancies without complications, drugs and drug combinations to be used preferably in these pregnancies and updated information on adverse effects of anti-retroviral drugs. Also the procedures for different scenarios and risk constellations in pregnancy have been specified again. - With these current guidelines in Germany and Austria the low rate of vertical HIV-transmission should be further maintained or even further lowered.     

深圳市预防艾滋病母婴传播项目孕期晚筛查因素分析

目的 探讨深圳市预防艾滋病母婴传播（PMTCT）项目孕产妇晚筛查的影响因素,以实现早发现和早干预的目标。方法 利用国家妇幼信息系统预防艾滋病母婴传播工作月报表数据,分析2007—2017年深圳市预防艾滋病母婴传播项目(PMTCT)产前门诊检测率、产科病房检测率、孕期检测率的变化趋势。采用横断面调查法,在全市10个区分层随机抽取2015—2017年上报的分娩时才进行艾滋病抗体检测的孕产妇。通过电话问卷以及医疗机构HIS信息系统查询孕期产前门诊就诊情况。根据查询到的就诊日期,在实验室信息检测系统查询HIV抗体检测情况。结果 2007—2017年,深圳市PMTCT项目产前门诊检测率、产科病房检测率和孕期检测率明显上升,差异有统计学意义。自2013年起,产前门诊检测率均超过97.00%,产科病房检测率自2011年起基本达到100.00%。在分娩量持续上升的情况下,孕妇在孕期接受HIV抗体检测的比例持续增加,至2017年已达到98.34%。共587例仅产时进行HIV抗体检测的孕产妇纳入个案分析。其中孕期到过医疗机构产前门诊进行产前保健,但被遗漏开取检验单的占32.37%;孕期已经进行过HIV抗体检测,但分娩时由于各种原因在产科病房重复检测的比例为16.35%;孕妇本人孕期从未进行产前保健的比例为48.38%,孕妇本人拒绝检测的比例为2.90%。其中,2017年产前门诊漏检率为20.35%,较2015年的39.57%和2016年的35.53%明显降低。结论 深圳市预防艾滋病母婴传播（PMTCT）项目质量在10年间明显提升,但仍需进一步采取措施杜绝产前门诊漏筛查情况和产科病房重复检测情况的发生,并对拒绝检测的孕妇采取跟踪追访措施。     

Variable uptake of recommended interventions to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Australia, 1982-2005

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the uptake of interventions known to reduce the risk of perinatal HIV transmission among Australian women with HIV infection (who knew their HIV status before delivery), and identify predictors of uptake. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of perinatal HIV surveillance data in Australia. PATIENTS: Women reported as having HIV infection and having given birth to a child (1982-2005) were identified through three mechanisms: an informal network of clinicians (1982-1993); an active surveillance program through paediatricians (since 1993); and state health department reports of children born to women newly diagnosed with HIV (since 1995). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Uptake of interventions - avoidance of breastfeeding (after 1985), use of zidovudine during pregnancy (after 1994), and elective caesarean section (after 1999). Factors associated with uptake of these interventions were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: 367 live births were reported in 291 women with HIV infection. Among the subgroup diagnosed with HIV infection before delivery, 4/255 (1.6%) elected to breastfeed (post 1985), 44/185 (24%) did not receive zidovudine (after 1994), and 41/118 (35%) did not have an elective caesarean section (after 1999). In multivariate analysis, there were significant differences in uptake of zidovudine and elective caesarean section according to year of birth and state in which the birth took place. CONCLUSION: In Australia between 1982 and 2005, uptake of interventions to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV was high. There were significant differences associated with use of zidovudine and mode of delivery according to location of delivery and year of birth.     

Trends in perinatal transmission of HIV/AIDS in the United States.

CONTEXT: Since 1994, the US Public Health Service (PHS) has recommended routine, voluntary prenatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing and zidovudine therapy to reduce perinatal HIV transmission. OBJECTIVE: To describe trends in incidence of perinatal AIDS and factors contributing to these trends, particularly the effect of PHS perinatal HIV recommendations. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Analysis of nationwide AIDS surveillance data and data from HIV-reporting states through June 1998. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Trends in AIDS by year of diagnosis, incidence rates of AIDS and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) among infants younger than 1 year from US natality data for birth cohorts 1988 to 1996; expected number of infants with AIDS from national serosurvey data; and zidovudine use data from selected HIV-reporting states. RESULTS: Perinatal AIDS cases peaked in 1992 and then declined 67% from 1992 through 1997, including an 80% decline in infants and a 66% decline in children aged 1 to 5 years. Rates of AIDS among infants (per 100000 births) declined 69%, from 8.9 in 1992 to 2.8 in 1996 compared with a 17% decline in births to HIV-infected women from 1992 (n = 6990) to 1995 (n = 5797). Among infants, PCP rates per 100000 declined 67% (from 4.5 in 1992 to 1.5 in 1996), similar to the decline in other AIDS conditions. The percentage of perinatally exposed children born from 1993 through 1997 whose mothers were tested for HIV before giving birth increased from 70% to 94%; the percentage who received zidovudine increased from 7% to 91%. CONCLUSIONS: According to these data, substantial declines in AIDS incidence were temporally associated with an increase in zidovudine use to reduce perinatal HIV transmission, demonstrating substantial success in implementing PHS guidelines. Reductions in the numbers of births and effects of therapy in delaying AIDS do not explain the decline.     

Evidence-based guidelines for universal counselling and offering of HIV testing in pregnancy in Canada

OBJECTIVE: To provide Canadian health care workers with evidence-based guidelines for universal counselling about HIV testing and the offering of such testing to all pregnant women. OPTIONS: Universal counselling and offering of HIV testing to all pregnant women versus targeted testing of only pregnant women at high risk for HIV infection. Antiretroviral treatment protocols for HIV-positive mothers and their infants are discussed as the intervention to reduce mother-to-child transmission rates. OUTCOMES: Main outcomes are mother-to-child HIV transmission rates and consequences of HIV testing on the mother and infant. EVIDENCE: Articles published from January 1985 to March 1997 identified through a MEDLINE search; articles published in pertinent medical journals in 1996 and 1997 identified through a manual search; and abstracts presented at international HIV/AIDS conferences. BENEFITS, HARMS AND COSTS: Early diagnosis of HIV infection in a pregnant woman optimizes her medical and psychosocial care, decreases the incidence of mother-to-child transmission and decreases the risk of horizontal transmission to sexual partners. New, third-generation HIV tests have reduced false-positive rates and thus diminished the harm of screening. RECOMMENDATIONS: A screening strategy consisting of universal counselling and offering of HIV testing is recommended for all pregnant women in Canada (grade B recommendation). Targeted testing of only pregnant women at high risk for HIV infection fails to identify a substantial proportion of HIV-positive pregnant women and is therefore not recommended (grade D recommendation). Women who identify themselves as being at high risk and whose initial HIV test result is negative should be counselled about the reduction of high-risk behaviours and retested in 6 months (grade B recommendation). Treatment of seropositive women and infants with zidovudine to prevent mother-to-child transmission is recommended (grade A or B recommendation depending on gestational age and CD4 count). VALIDATION: These guidelines are endorsed by the Canadian Pediatric AIDS Research Group and are in agreement with the recommendations of the Canadian Paediatric Society and the US Public Health Service Task Force.     

Prospective study of human immunodeficiency virus infection and pregnancy outcomes in intravenous drug users

To determine the effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on pregnancy outcomes, we prospectively studied female intravenous drug users in a methadone program in New York City. Of 191 women with HIV status known prior to pregnancy, 17 (24%) of 70 seropositives and 26 (22%) of 121 seronegatives became pregnant during 28 months of follow-up. Including 54 additional women first tested for HIV antibody after becoming pregnant, 125 pregnancies were studied in 97 women (39 seropositive, 58 seronegative). None of the seropositive pregnant women had advanced HIV-related disease at entry, and only one developed symptomatic disease (oral candidiasis) during pregnancy. No differences were observed between groups in the frequency of spontaneous or elective abortion, ectopic pregnancy, preterm delivery, stillbirth, or low-birth-weight births. Among women giving birth to live infants, seropositives were more likely than seronegatives to be hospitalized for bacterial pneumonia during pregnancy and had an increased tendency for breech presentation, although these events were infrequent. There were otherwise no differences between groups in the occurrence of antenatal, intrapartum, or neonatal complications. Results suggest that asymptomatic HIV infection is not associated with a decreased pregnancy rate or an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in intravenous drug users, and that an acceleration in HIV-disease status during pregnancy is uncommon.     

乌鲁木齐地区新生儿出生体重的变化与现状

目的：了解乌鲁木齐地区各民族胎儿生长发育的情况及发展趋势。方法：随机抽取1990－2000年出生的足月、单胎活婴5014例作为研究对象，测量新生儿出生体重，并对新生儿体重与性别、民族之间的关系进行了分析。并将全部资料分为2个阶段，分别对体重的变化趋势及巨大儿、低体重儿的发生率进行分析。结果：男婴出生体重平均高于女婴137g；各民族间新生儿体重无明显差异；1996年以后出生的新生儿体重较1995年之前平均增加125g,≥4000g的巨大发生率增加，而＜2500g的低体重儿的发生率减少。结论：乌鲁木齐地区新生儿出生体重呈明显增加趋势。     

2008年汶川大地震灾后高龄经产妇再次妊娠结局分析

目的 分析2008年汶川大地震后地震重灾区高龄妇女再次妊娠结局,为高龄妇女的孕前保健提供参考。方法 回顾性调查接受地震重灾区再生育全程服务的542例妊娠经产妇的临床资料,根据妊娠终止年龄分为高龄组（≥35岁）和非高龄组（<35岁）,比较两组妊娠结局,包括基本情况、妊娠率、妊娠合并症/并发症、妊娠结果及围产儿情况。结果 2008~2013年542例再生育妇女（高龄组366例,非高龄组176例）共妊娠622人次,生育（足月和早产）517人次,活产522人（双胎6例）,有出生缺陷3例。高龄组的两年内累积妊娠率低于非高龄组,高龄组妊娠高血压疾病、妊娠期糖尿病、多胎、胎儿宫内窘迫、低出生体重儿、出生缺陷的发生率较高,非高龄组足月活产率较高、流产率较低,但差异无统计学意义。结论 接受地震灾区再生育全程服务的高龄经产妇再次妊娠结局与非高龄经产妇相当。     

RhD阴性孕妇妊娠RhD阳性胎儿与新生儿溶血病的相关性分析

目的探讨RhD阴性孕妇产前免疫性抗D抗体的检出率与产后新生儿溶血病(HDN)发病率的相关性。方法收集2007年1月至2010年12月137例RhD阴性孕妇产前血样及40例产后血样,分析产前抗D抗体的检出率、产后HDN发病率及其与母儿ABO血型配合性的关系。结果 16例(12.60%)RhD阴性孕妇多次妊娠者检测到抗D抗体,10例首次妊娠者均未检出;产前血清抗D抗体的检出率低于产后(P<0.05);RhD阴性孕妇妊娠RhD阳性胎儿且母儿ABO血型不配合时HDN的发病率高于母儿ABO血型配合者(P<0.05),属ABO血型系统者HDN的发病率高于属Rh血型系统者(P<0.05);抗D抗体的检出率与母儿ABO血型配合性无相关性(P>0.05)。结论产前RhD阴性孕妇抗D抗体的检出率与产后发生HDN的相关性尚不明确;ABO血型不配合对RhD阴性孕妇发生RhD-HDN有保护作用,但对产生抗D抗体的检出率无影响。     

Pattern of birth defects delivered to non-residents in Hawai'i, 1986-2002

Using birth defects registry data, this study examined whether deliveries to residents and non-residents differed. The non-resident rate was significantly higher among those infants/fetuses with more than one major birth defect, pregnancy outcomes that did not result in live births, multiple births, deliveries in the City and County of Honolulu, and pregnancies where prenatal diagnostic procedures had been performed.     

Management of HIV-positive pregnant women: a Singapore experience

INTRODUCTIONPerinatal transmission remains one of the important causes of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Over the years, with better knowledge and awareness of HIV infection, the perinatal transmission rate has been significantly reduced. We previously reported on the pregnancy outcomes of HIV-positive mothers from 1997 to 2007 in our institution. This article aimed to review the standards of care of HIV-positive pregnant women since then.METHODSA retrospective study reviewed 84 HIV-positive women who delivered in a tertiary centre from January 2008 to December 2015. Patient demographics and antenatal, intrapartum, postnatal and immediate neonatal data were analysed.RESULTSA total of 97 deliveries with 98 neonates were recorded; 12 women delivered more than once, and there was one set of twins. The mean maternal age at diagnosis of HIV infection was 27.8 years. Of the study population, 63.1% of women were non-Singaporeans. 56 women were known to have HIV infection on presentation and 90.7% were on antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy. 88.7% of the women received intrapartum intravenous zidovudine, and 93.1% of women with detectable and 58.7% with undetectable viral load underwent Caesarean sections. All neonates were HIV-negative.CONCLUSIONThe high standards of care for HIV-positive women have successfully reduced our perinatal transmission rate to zero.     

German-austrian recommendations for HIV1-therapy in pregnancy and in HIV1-exposed newborn - update 2008

German-Austrian recommendations for HIV1-therapy in pregnancy - Update 2008 Bernd Buchholz (University Medical Centre Mannheim, Pediatric Clinic), Matthias Beichert (Mannheim, Gynecology and Obstetrics Practice), Ulrich Marcus (Robert Koch Institute, Berlin), Thomas Grubert, Andrea Gingelmaier (Gynecology Clinic of the Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich), Dr. med. Annette Haberl (HIV-Department, J. W. Goethe-University Hospital, Frankfurt), Dr. med. Brigitte Schmied (Otto-Wagner Spital, Wien).In Germany during the last years about 200-250 HIV1-infected pregnant women delivered a baby each year, a number that is currently increasing. To determine the HIV-status early in pregnancy voluntary HIV-testing of all pregnant women is recommended in Germany and Austria as part of prenatal care. In those cases, where HIV1-infection was known during pregnancy, since 1995 the rate of vertical transmission of HIV1 was reduced to 1-2%.This low transmission rate has been achieved by the combination of anti-retroviral therapy of pregnant women, caesarean section scheduled before onset of labour, anti-retroviral post exposition prophylaxis in the newborn and refraining from breast-feeding by the HIV1-infected mother. To keep pace with new results in research, approval of new anti-retroviral drugs and changes in the general treatment recommendations for HIV1-infected adults, in 1998, 2001, 2003 and 2005 an interdisciplinary consensus meeting was held. Gynaecologists, infectious disease specialists, paediatricians, pharmacologists, virologists and members of the German AIDS Hilfe (NGO) were participating in this conference to update the prevention strategies. A fifth update became necessary in 2008. The updating process was started in January 2008 and was terminated in September 2008. The guidelines provide new recommendations on the indication and the starting point for HIV-therapy in pregnancies without complications, drugs and drug combinations to be used preferably in these pregnancies and updated information on adverse effects of anti-retroviral drugs. Also the procedures for different scenarios and risk constellations in pregnancy have been specified again.With these current guidelines in Germany and Austria the low rate of vertical HIV1-transmission should be further maintained.     

Live birth following day surgery reversal of female sterilisation in women older than 40 years: a realistic option in Australia?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the live birth rate following surgical reversal of sterilisation in women aged 40 years and older. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of pregnancy outcome following day surgery microsurgical reversal of sterilisation performed by two reproductive microsurgeons in the private sector. SETTING AND PATIENTS: 47 patients (aged 40 years or older) who had reversal of sterilisation performed between 1997 and 2005 in Adelaide, South Australia (n=35), or the Infertility Centre of St Louis, Missouri, USA (n=12). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Independently audited live birth surviving the neonatal period. RESULTS: Of the 47 patients on whom follow-up was obtainable from the two centres, 19 (40%) had a live birth, 7 had had only a first trimester miscarriage at the time of follow-up, and 21 (44%) had failed to conceive. Age at conception ranged between 40 and 47 years. Two women had two live births following surgery. The total direct costs (Australian dollars, adjusted to 2005) in Australia were $4850 per treatment, and $11,317 per live birth. The corresponding direct cost of a single cycle of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) in Australia has been estimated at $6940, with a cost per live birth of $97 884 for women aged 40-42 years and $182,794 for older women. CONCLUSION: Previously sterilised women wanting further pregnancy should be offered tubal surgery as an alternative to IVF, as it offers them the opportunity to have an entirely natural pregnancy. In settings where IVF is financially supported by government agencies or insurance, tubal reversal is a highly cost-effective strategy for the previously fertile woman.