Human Immunodeficiency Virus Seronegative Women Research Articles

Assessment of Antinuclear Antibodies, Anti-Beta 2-Glycoprotein-1, and Thyroid Peroxidase Autoantibody Levels in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Sero-positive Pregnant Women at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi Nigeria

Abstract Background: Pregnancy is associated with biochemical alterations and may be compounded by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection potentially affecting pregnancy outcome. Aims: This study evaluated some biochemical parameters that could possibly affect pregnancy outcomes in HIV-infected women. Patients, Materials and Methods: The study involved 136 HIV sero-positive on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and 137 HIV sero-negative pregnant women, recruited from the Antenatal Clinic of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi. Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), anti-beta 2-glycoprotein-1 (βGP1), and thyroid peroxidase autoantibody (TPOab) were analysed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods. Results: TPOab in HIV sero-positive subjects (104.9 ± 51.06 IU/mL) was significantly higher (P > 0.05) compared with controls (89.5 ± 33.5 IU/mL). ANA and βGP1 in test group (0.89 ± 0.31; 12.94 ± 8.9, respectively) did not change significantly (P > 0.05) compared with the controls (0.84 ± 0.27; 10.37 ± 9.6, respectively). There were no significant changes in measured biochemical parameters between trimesters (P > 0.05). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in measured biochemical parameters between subjects with different APGAR scores in all subject groups. Conclusion: HIV infection affected TPOab level but had no impact on ANA, bGP1, and APGAR score in HIV pregnancy under HAART.

Cervical Cytology and Herpes Simplex Virus Type-2 Serology Among Human Immune Deficiency Virus Infected Women on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in Enugu, Nigeria.

The prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Herpes Simplex Virus type-2 (HSV-2) infections are high and the programme for Cervical Cancer Screening is weak in Nigeria. Prevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus Type-2 co-infection and cervical cytology among HSV-2 co-infected Human Immunodeficiency Virus Sero-positive (HIV+) women on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) attending Human Immunodeficiency Virus clinic at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku/Ozalla Enugu, Nigeria. A cross-sectional, hospital-based study. Active participants included 105 HIV seropositive women on HAART and104 HIV seronegative (HIV-) women who passed inclusion criteria and signed written informed consent. Each participant was coded with a specific number. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain the socio-demographic and medical history. Serum was obtained for HSV-2 serology test for all participants and HIV screening for HIV-negative participants. Cervical smears were collected for Papanicolaou stains and Immunocytochemistry using anti-P16INKa antibody. Prevalence of HSV-2+ was 50.5% among HIV+ women on HAART and 16.3% among HIV- women, Odds Ratios [95% CI]; p-value was 5.21 [2.74-9.94]; p < 0.0001. HIV+ women on HAART co-infected with HSV-2 significantly had more Cervical Lesions, 11.4% compared to HIVwomen uninfected with HSV-2, 4.8%, OR [95% CI]; p-value 4.8 (1.58-14.54); p = 0.006. The prevalence of HSV-2 was significantly high among HIV+ women on HAART. HSV-2+ co-infection could be an enhancer of Cervical Lesions among HIV+ women on HAART. Hence, anti-herpetic agent introduction and screening for HSV-2 among HIV+ patients are recommended.

Abstract 1496: Circulating mir21 and mir125b in women living with human immunodeficiency virus: Utility of biomarkers for monitoring cervical carcinogenesis

Abstract Background: As of 2018, the prevalence of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and cervical cancer (Ca) attributable to HIV was higher in Africa than in other continents. Identifying individuals at a high risk of developing Ca among immunocompromised persons, using less invasive techniques, remains a major challenge. Purpose: The study evaluated HIV infection-associated dysregulation of Ca-linked oncomirs (miR-21, miR-146a, miR-155, miR-182, and miR-200c) and tumor suppressors (miR-let-7b, miR-125b, miR-143, miR-145, and p53 gene), in a bid to identify early indicators of genetic instability, and biomarkers for monitoring of high-risk individuals. Methods: This case-control study included 173 women without abnormal Pap smear; confirmed HIV seropositive women (HIV+ = 103) and HIV seronegative women (HIV- = 70). Relative expressions of miRNAs and p53 gene in blood and cervical cells) were determined following RNA extraction, reverse transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and gel electrophoresis. T-test was used to compare the data from HIV+ and HIV- women. Significance was set at p≤ 0.05. Results: Similar pattern of miR-21, miR-146a, miR-182, miR-200c, miR-125b, and miR-145 expression was observed in both samples. Higher expressions of miR-155 and p53 gene were observed in cervical cells of HIV+ women compared with HIV- women (p= 0.046, and 0.033, respectively) whereas lower expressions of miR-155 and p53 gene were observed in the blood of HIV+ women compared with HIV- women (p= 0.539 and 0.049, respectively). In both blood and cervical cells, higher miR-21 expression (p= 0.032 and 0.198, respectively) and lower miR-125b expression (p= 0.050 and 0.004, respectively) were observed in HIV+ women compared with HIV-women. In blood, a lower expression of miR-146a was observed in HIV+ women compared with HIV- women (p= 0.036) whereas in cervical cells, lower expressions of miR-182 and miR-200c were observed in HIV+ women compared with HIV- women (p= 0.035 and 0.045, respectively). The low expression of miR-146a, miR-182, and miR-200c in HIV+ women could be due to immune exhaustion, viral immune evasive mechanism, or an indicator of viral latency while the higher expression of miR-21, and lower expression of miR-125b and p53 could be early indicators of genetic instability prior to epithelial transformation. Conclusion: This study suggests that circulating high expression of miR-21 and low expression of miR-125b and p53 gene could be used in identifying individuals at risk of developing Ca, especially among immunocompromised patients. Keywords: Human immunodeficiency virus, Cervical cancer, Detection, Biomarkers, MicroRNAs Citation Format: Jude Ogechukwu Okoye, Anthony Ajuluchukwu Ngokere, Charles Chinedum Onyenekwe, Samuel Ifedioranma Ogenyi, Olaposi Omotuyi. Circulating mir21 and mir125b in women living with human immunodeficiency virus: Utility of biomarkers for monitoring cervical carcinogenesis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 1496.

Incidence of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Infection Among African Women Using Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, a Copper Intrauterine Device, or a Levonorgestrel Implant for Contraception: A Nested Randomized Trial.

BackgroundGlobally, women have higher herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) prevalence than men; data from observational studies suggest a possible association of HSV-2 acquisition with use of intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM).MethodsWithin a randomized trial of the effect of 3 contraceptive methods—DMPA-IM, a copper intrauterine device (IUD), and a levonorgestrel (LNG) implant—on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition, we assessed HSV-2 acquisition. HSV-2 and HIV seronegative women, aged 16–35 years, and seeking effective contraception were followed for 12–18 months at 12 sites in Eswatini, Kenya, South Africa, and Zambia from 2015 to 2018. HSV-2 serologic testing was done at enrollment and final study visits. Intention-to-treat analysis using Poisson regression with robust standard errors compared HSV-2 incidence by contraceptive method.ResultsAt baseline, 4062 randomized women were HSV-2 seronegative, of whom 3898 (96.0%) had a conclusive HSV-2 result at their final study visit. Of these, 614 (15.8%) acquired HSV-2, at an incidence of 12.4/100 person-years (p-y): 10.9/100 p-y among women assigned DMPA-IM, 13.7/100 p-y the copper IUD, and 12.7/100 p-y the LNG implant. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) for HSV-2 acquisition were 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI], .65–.97) for DMPA-IM compared with copper IUD, 0.86 (95% CI, .71–1.05) for DMPA-IM compared with LNG implant, and 1.08 (95% CI, .89–1.30) for copper IUD compared with LNG implant. HSV-2 acquisition risk was significantly increased among women who also acquired HIV during follow-up (IRR 3.55; 95% CI, 2.78–4.48).ConclusionsIn a randomized trial, we found no association between HSV-2 acquisition and use of 3 contraceptive methods.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov number NCT02550067.

Co-existence of Herpes simplex virus type 2 and two other oncoviruses is associated with cervical lesions in women living with HIV in South-Western Nigeria.

The prevalence of Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) in cervical lesions is under-reported, especially in Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infected persons. This study determined the prevalence of viral mono-infections, co-infections and squamous cell intraepithelial lesions (SIL) in HIV seropositive (HIV+) and HIV seronegative (HIV-) women. This study included HIV+ and HIV- women (105 each). Cervical smears and viral antibodies were evaluated by Papanicolaou's technique and ELISA method, respectively. The prevalence of HSV-2, HPV and EBV infections, and SIL were higher in HIV+ women (75.2, 41.9, 41 and 32.4%) than in HIV- women (45.7, 26.7, 26.7 and 13.3%) at p< 0.0001, p= 0.029, 0.041 and 0.002, respectively. Higher prevalence of viral mono-infection and tri-infection was observed in HIV+ women (43.8 and 24.8%) than in HIV- women (27.6 and 8.6%) at p= 0.021, and 0.003, respectively. The prevalence of SIL was also higher in HIV+ women with viral mono-infection, bi-infection and tri-infection (15.2, 42.9, and 53.8%) than in HIV- women (6.9, 12.5, and 44.4%) at p= 0.468, 0.041, and 0.711, respectively. This study suggests that the high prevalence of SIL in HIV+ women could be associated with viral co-infections.

Effect of antiretroviral drugs on prolactin in HIV infected pregnant women

The world has finally settled living with Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) with no cure discovered so far. Yong people with HIV infection under HIV management drugs get married and eventually end up being pregnant and bearing babies. The need therefore to investigate the effect of HIV infection and antiretroviral drugs on body chemistry especially the hormones concerned with pregnancy and lactation cannot be over emphasized as this is important to intervene when necessary for the overall benefit for the mother and child. We investigated the effect of anti-retroviral drugs and human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection on prolactin production and stimulation in HIV-infected pregnant women. A total of 120 subjects participated in the study. Sixty (group 1) of these subjects were HIV seropositive pregnant women who commenced treatment with zidovudine in combination with lamivudine, that is highly anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) at 2nd trimester. The 2nd group made up of 60 HIV seronegative pregnant women who received no drug and as control to the study. The blood samples of both groups were collected at the beginning of the second and at the end of the third trimesters. For group 1 (seropositive pregnant women), the blood collection was done just before commencingthe HAART treatment. The prolactin level of HIV seropositive pregnant women were significantly (P &lt; 0.05) lower than the HIV seronegative pregnant women at the 2nd trimester. Also, the prolactin level of HIV seropositive pregnant women at 2nd trimester was not significantly increased (P&gt; 0.05) compared with third trimester level. The reverse was the case with HIV seronegative pregnant women where prolactin level of 3rdtrimester was significantly increased when compared with 2nd trimester. HIV infection has prolactin suppressive effect on pregnant women and HAART treatment did not significantly raise prolactin level.Keywords: Prolactin, pregnancy, HIV, highly active retroviral therapy (HAART).

Knowledge of cervical cancer prevention and human papillomavirus among women with HIV

Objective To assess knowledge of and attitudes towards human papillomavirus (HPV), Pap testing, and the HPV vaccine. Methods In a multicenter U.S. cohort study, women with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and at-risk comparison women completed 44-item standardized self-report questionnaires exploring their knowledge of cervical cancer prevention, HPV, and HPV vaccination. Results were correlated with demographic variables, measures of education and attention, and medical factors. Data were clustered using principal component analysis. Significant associations were assessed in multivariable models. Results Among 1588 women, HIV seropositive women better understood facts about cervical cancer prevention and HPV than seronegative women, but both had substantial knowledge deficits. Almost all women considered Pap testing important, although 53% of HIV seropositive and 48% of seronegative women considered cervical cancer not preventable ( P = 0.21). Only 44% of HIV seropositive women knew Paps assess the cervix, versus 42% of HIV seronegative women ( P = 0.57). Both groups understood that HPV causes genital warts and cervical cancer (67% of HIV seropositive vs. 55% of seronegative women, P = 0.002). About half of both groups considered HPV vaccination extremely important for cervical cancer prevention. HIV seronegative women were more likely to report learning of HPV vaccination through advertising than from clinicians (81% vs. 64%, P < 0.0001). Conclusion High risk women need effective education about cervical cancer prevention, HPV, and HPV vaccination.

Natural History of Grade 1 Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia in Women With Human Immunodeficiency Virus

We sought to estimate rates of progression and regression of grade 1 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 1) among women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In a multicenter prospective cohort study, HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative women were evaluated colposcopically after receiving an abnormal cytology test result between November 1994 and September 2002. Women with CIN 1 were included, except those who had undergone hysterectomy, cervical therapy, or had CIN 2-3 or cervical cancer. Those women who were included were followed cytologically twice yearly, with colposcopy repeated for atypia or worse. We followed 223 women with CIN 1 (202 HIV seropositive and 21 HIV seronegative) for a mean of 3.3 person-years. Progression occurred in 8 HIV-seropositive women (incidence density, 1.2/100 person-years; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.5-2.4/100 person-years) and in no HIV seronegative women. Regression occurred in 66 (33%) HIV-seropositive women (13/100 person-years, 95% CI 10-16/100 person-years) versus 14 (67%) seronegative women (32/100 person-years, relative risk 0.40, 95% CI 0.25-0.66; P < .001). In multivariate analysis, regression was associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) detection (hazard ratio [HR] for low risk 0.28, 95% CI 0.13-0.61, P = .001; and for high-risk 0.34, 95% CI 0.20-0.55, P < .001 versus no HPV detected) and Hispanic ethnicity (HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.230.98; P = .04); HIV serostatus was only marginally linked to regression (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.27-1.03; P = .06), but seropositive women were less likely to regress when analysis was limited to 146 women with HPV detected at CIN 1 diagnosis (HR 0.18, 95% CI 0.05-0.62; P = .006). Grade 1 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia infrequently progresses in women with HIV. Thus, observation appears safe absent other indications for treatment. II-1.

Urinary tract infections in women with or at risk for human immunodeficiency virus infection

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the risk for urinary tract infection in women with or at risk for human immunodeficiency virus infection. Study Design: A prospective study of 871 women who were human immunodeficiency virus seropositive and 439 women who were human immunodeficiency virus seronegative was conducted, with additional semiannual interviews, human immunodeficiency virus serologic evaluation, human immunodeficiency viral load determination, T-cell subset test, urinalysis, pregnancy test, and selected quantitative urine culture examination. Results: At baseline, 26 women (3.0%) who were human immunodeficiency virus seropositive and 14 women (3.2%) who were human immunodeficiency virus seronegative women had urinary tract infections(P =.97). During 4280 person-years of follow-up, incident urinary tract infections was associated significantly with <12 years education (adjusted risk ratio, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.01-2.00), public assistance (adjusted risk ratio, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.11-2.60), pregnancy (adjusted risk ratio, 3.04; 95% CI, 2.04-4.53), and recent previous urinary tract infection (adjusted risk ratio, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.16-2.86), but not with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Among women who were human immunodeficiency virus seropositive, risk was associated with viral load (adjusted risk ratio, per log10 increase 1.30; 95% CI, 1.03-1.63), but not with CD4+ lymphocyte count. Conclusion: Risk for urinary tract infection is not associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection but is associated with viral load among women who are infected with human immunodeficiency virus. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;187:581-8.)

Postoperative morbidity associated with cesarean delivery among human immunodeficiency virus–seropositive women

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the complication rates associated with cesarean delivery between human immunodeficiency virus–seropositive women with those among a matched group of human immunodeficiency virus–seronegative subjects. Study Design: We conducted a case-control study of 86 human immunodeficiency virus–seropositive women undergoing cesarean delivery between the years 1992 and 2000 at a large, urban teaching institution and a control group of 86 human immunodeficiency virus–seronegative women matched for age, race, year of delivery, and delivery indications. Data were analyzed with the χ2 test and odds ratios. Among human immunodeficiency virus–seropositive women, complications were further stratified according to maternal disease status and use of antiretroviral therapy. Results: Human immunodeficiency virus–seropositive women were significantly more likely than control women to have minor postoperative complications (66.3% vs 41.8%; odds ratio, 2.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.40-6.10), of which febrile morbidity was the most common (62.8% vs 42.7%; P =.003). There was no difference between the groups in the rate of major complications (9.3% vs 3.4%; odds ratio, 2.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.65-14.06). Zidovudine use was associated with a decrease in the maternal morbidity rate (odds ratio, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.07-1.03). Conclusion: Postoperative morbidity among human immunodeficiency virus–seropositive women undergoing cesarean delivery was not different from that in a matched control population. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;184:1108-11.)

Anergy during pregnancy

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine whether the prevalence of anergy is higher among pregnant women than among nonpregnant women. Study Design: Sixty human immunodeficiency virus–seronegative women (n = 30 pregnant, n = 30 nonpregnant) from the Duke University Medical Center (Durham, North Carolina) clinic were enrolled. Skin tests were performed with purified protein derivative of tuberculin, Candida antigen, mumps antigen, and tetanus toxoid. A power calculation was done to determine adequate sample size, and data were analyzed with the Fisher exact test and the t test. Results: Three women in each group did not have a response to any of the antigens tested, for an anergy prevalence of 10%. Pregnant women were less likely to have a reaction to skin testing with tetanus toxoid than were nonpregnant women (10% vs 40%; P <.02). Conclusion: Human immunodeficiency virus–seronegative pregnant women did not appear to have a higher prevalence of anergy than that seen among comparable nonpregnant women. Human immunodeficiency virus–seronegative pregnant women who are being evaluated with the purified protein derivative of tuberculin skin test are therefore unlikely to need anergy skin testing just because they are pregnant. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;184:1090-2.)

Vaginal infections in human immunodeficiency virus–infected women

Objective: This study was undertaken to compare the frequencies of vaginal infections among human immunodeficiency virus–infected women with those among human immunodeficiency virus–seronegative women. Study Design: Human immunodeficiency virus–seropositive women attending a comprehensive care center for human immunodeficiency virus disease at the outpatient department of an inner-city hospital in Houston underwent rigorous gynecologic evaluation for sexually transmitted diseases, including evidence of vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and trichomonal vaginitis. Demographic information was collected, as was information regarding disease classification and degree of immunosuppression. Data regarding sexually transmitted diseases, data regarding vaginal infections, and demographic information were collected from a cohort of human immunodeficiency virus–seronegative women attending a sexually transmitted disease and family planning clinic at the same institution. The two groups were compared to determine whether there were any differences between them in the frequencies of sexually transmitted diseases and vaginal infection. Data analysis used the t test for parametric data and the Fisher exact test for nonparametric data where appropriate. P <.05 was considered significant. Statistical analysis was performed with the SAS (SAS Institute, Inc, Cary, NC) statistical software package. Results: There was no difference in age between the 2 groups. The human immunodeficiency virus–infected group was predominantly African American (80.5%), whereas the human immunodeficiency virus–seronegative control group was more evenly divided between African American women (45.8%) and Latinos (41.7%; P <.0001). Although there was no significant association between HIV infection and sexually transmitted diseases in general, there were significant associations between human immunodeficiency virus infection and bacterial vaginosis (P =.02), vulvovaginal candidiasis (P =.001), and trichomonal vaginitis (P =.003). Conclusion: Human immunodeficiency virus–infected women had increased frequencies of vaginal infections, including bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and trichomonal vaginitis, with respect to human immunodeficiency virus–seronegative control subjects. No differences between the 2 groups were seen in the frequencies of sexually transmitted diseases. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;183:347-55.)

Human immunodeficiency virus antibody in patients with cancer of the uterine cervix undergoing radiotherapy: clinical stages, histological grade and outcome of radiotherapy

One hundred and twenty consecutive patients with cancer of the uterine cervix were screened for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity before and after radiotherapy. The severity of the disease in terms of clinical staging and histological grading of HIV seropositive women was compared with that of seronegative women. The result showed a prevalence rate of 4.2% for HIV seropositivity which was similar to the rate quoted for the general populace in Nigeria. The HIV seropositive women presented with more severe disease state than the HIV seronegative women. The mean duration of remission was significantly shorter in the HIV seropositive women following radiotherapy (18.36+/3.96 vs. 24.24+/-6.3 months). It was concluded that HIV infection increases the severity and progression of cancer of the cervix in Nigerians. Radiotherapy has no effect on the patients' seropositivity and possibly no effect on the virus. A more aggressive treatment of carcinoma of the cervix and closer follow-up of HIV seropositive patients following treatment are necessary.

A longitudinal study of human papillomavirus carriage in human immunodeficiency virus–infected and human immunodeficiency virus–uninfected women

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the relationship of human immunodeficiency virus serostatus to carriage of oncogenic human papillomavirus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 268 human immunodeficiency virus–infected and 265 human immunodeficiency virus–uninfected women were seen every 6 months, at which time they had laboratory tests performed including a CD4 count. Human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. Statistical methods included Kaplan-Meier and Cox's proportional hazard models. RESULTS: The prevalence at baseline of any human papillomavirus type was 73% and 43% among human immunodeficiency virus–seropositive and seronegative women, respectively ( p < 0.0001) and of oncogenic types was 32.5% and 17.0% ( p < 0.001). The prevalence of oncogenic human papillomavirus was higher in women with CD4 counts <200 mm 3 ( p < 0.001). The rate of detection of new oncogenic human papillomavirus per 100 patient years of follow-up in human immunodeficiency virus–seropositive women was almost three times higher than among human immunodeficiency virus–seronegative women ( p < 0.01). The rate of loss of an oncogenic human papillomavirus was higher in the human immunodeficiency virus–seronegative women but the difference was not significant. The relative risk of a human immunodeficiency virus–infected woman who did not initially have a specific type of oncogenic human papillomavirus having one detected during follow-up was 6.6 times greater than among human immunodeficiency virus–negative women ( p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Human immunodeficiency virus–seropositive women are more likely to have newly detectable oncogenic types of human papillomavirus at follow-up and to show persistent carriage of oncogenic types of human papillomavirus types. Among human immunodeficiency virus–infected women, those with higher CD4 counts were more likely to have a newly detected oncogenic human papillomavirus during follow-up. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1998;178:982-6.)

HIV-2 and Natural Protection Against HIV-1 Infection

The authors raise concerns that selection bias may have compromised the finding of Travers et al. that infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-2 confers natural protection against HIV-1 infection. In this study of commercial sex workers from Senegal the HIV-1 seroconversion rate after 9 years of observation was 1.06/100 person-years of observation among HIV-2-infected women compared to 2.53/100 person-years among HIV seronegative women. However in an earlier (1994) paper the same research group reported an HIV-1 seroconversion rate of 1.11/100 person-years in the same general population of seronegative sex workers followed over roughly the same period. Had the HIV-1 incidence rate among seronegative women in the second report been similar to that reported in 1994 there would have been no evidence that HIV-2 confers natural protection against HIV-1. While the 1994 paper appears to report data on all initially HIV-seronegative commercial sex workers enrolled in the Dakar study clinic the later paper followed only a subset. Thus a selection bias favoring seroincident HIV-1 cases may have occurred. Recalculation of the data through use of a retrospective cohort analysis is recommended to rule out such bias.

Risks for HIV Infection in Incarcerated Women

ABSTRACT The goal of this research was to investigate risks for exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and a spectrum of gynecological comorbidity associated with HIV infection in a population of incarcerated women. Eighty-eight women were selected by HIV infection status and interviewed about HIV risk-taking behaviors, sexual history, and gynecological history. Absolute CD4+ T cell counts and Papanicolaou test results were abstracted from the women's medical charts. Women who reported a history of childhood sexual abuse were more likely to engage in activities that increase susceptibility to HIV infection and were 2.8 times more likely (90% CI = 1.2-6.3) to be infected with HIV, when compared to women who were not sexually abused as children. HIV seropositive women were more likely than HIV seronegative women to report a history of gynecological infection. Specifically, pelvic inflammatory disease, herpesvirus, vaginal candidiasis, and gonorrhea were increased among HIV seropositive women compare...

Lack of mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis C virus in human immunodeficiency virus–seronegative women: A prospective study with hepatitis C virus RNA testing

The published risk of mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis C virus varies according to the population studied and the tests used. In a prospective study we used the polymerase chain reaction to assess the risk of vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus in an unselected population of women uninfected by human immunodeficiency virus. Hepatitis C virus antibodies were sought with a second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 2,367 consecutive pregnant women. Forty-one were positive, and 17 consented to serological follow-up of their offspring (n = 18). A second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay, ALT determination and hepatitis C virus RNA testing were performed on maternal sera obtained during pregnancy and sera from the offspring at birth and thereafter. Five older brothers or sisters were also tested. Hepatitis C virus RNA sequences in serum were amplified with a modified nested polymerase chain reaction procedure with primers from the highly conserved 5' noncoding region of the hepatitis C virus genome. All the neonates were positive for hepatitis C virus antibodies, with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titers and recombinant immunoblot assay patterns similar to those of their mothers. After birth hepatitis C virus antibodies gradually disappeared within 6 mo. Hepatitis C virus RNA was consistently negative in the 18 children from birth to 24 mo (range = 3 to 24 mo) and in the 5 older children, regardless of the hepatitis C virus polymerase chain reaction status of the mothers (8 of whom were positive).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Lack of mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis C virus in human immunodeficiency virus-seronegative women: A prospective study with hepatitis C virus RNA testing

Lack of mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis C virus in human immunodeficiency virus-seronegative women: A prospective study with hepatitis C virus RNA testing

Immunoglobulins and growth parameters at birth of infants born to HIV seropositive and seronegative women.

Health characteristics of neonates born to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive (n = 63) and HIV seronegative (n = 57) women were compared. No significant differences were found between the two infant groups for sociodemographic characteristics, mode of delivery, Apgar scores, gestational age, growth parameters, or immunoglobulin levels. Furthermore, no differences were detected in a subgroup of infants later confirmed to have HIV infection (class P-2). Maternal HIV infection does not appear to affect newborn health characteristics.

Serious infections during pregnancy among women with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection

Fifty-six human immunodeficiency virus seropositive-women and 76 human immunodeficiency virus seronegative-women had known CD4 cell values and were followed up throughout pregnancy. The women with seronegative results and the 40 with seropositive results and CD4 (helper cell) counts consistently 3 had no serious infections during pregnancy. Among the 16 with seropositive results and counts that fell below 300 cells/mm 3 , three developed opportunistic infections, one had pneumonia, and one had a post-cesarean-section abscess. Human immunodeficiency virus seropositive-women with low CD4 counts are at markedly increased risk of serious infections during pregnancy. The consequences of this for fetal health, pregnancy management, maternal well-being, and human immunodeficiency virus testing policies are discussed. (AM J OBSTET GVNECOL 1990;162:30-4.)