HIV infection might not increase the intrauterine transmission rate of CMV and HSV in patients with co-infection

Abstract

The intrauterine transmission rates of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) were determined in non human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and HIV-infected mothers. Mother-to-child transmission was defined as polymerase chain reaction positive viruria, and/or viremia. Of 60 mothers, 43 were HIV seropositive. The intrauterine transmission rates of CMV and HSV as shown in non HIV-infected mothers were 47.06% and 42.86%, respectively, and in HIV-infected mothers were 40.48% and 66.67%, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed between these two groups (p = 0.77 and 0.19, respectively). All intrauterine HSV transmission occurred in 2 HIV- infected mothers with HSV primary infection while one non-HIV-infected mother did not transmit. The incidence of symptomatic congenital CMV infection was found to be 0.04% and none with HSV infection. This study indicated that co-infection of HIV in pregnant women did not affect the intrauterine transmission rates of either CMV and HSV. Screening in utero infection by DNA detection in urine, white blood cells and plasma of newborns was recommended.