A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF HIV-SEROPOSITIVE ASYMPTOMATIC WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE IN A DEVELOPING-COUNTRY

An observational study of 140 HIV-seropositive asymptomatic women of c hildbearing age was conducted in Haiti from 1984 to 1992 as part of a larger natural history study. Forty-four women were pregnant or became pregnant during the study period. The progression to HIV-related dise ase, AIDS, and mortality from AIDS was compared in the pregnant and no npregnant cohorts. The mean follow-up time was 44 months. Overall, 32 of the 140 women (38%) developed AIDS, and 26 (19%) died from AIDS dur ing the study period, with a cumulative AIDS incidence rate of 16% at 3 years after study entry. There was a trend toward earlier manifestat ion of HIV-related symptoms among the pregnant cohort, but no signific ant difference was observed in the rate of progression to AIDS or deat h between the pregnant and nonpregnant women.