HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS SEROPOSITIVITY AND REACTIVATION AT DELIVERY AMONG PREGNANT-WOMEN INFECTED WITH HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-1

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine whether pregnant women infecte d with human immunodeficiency virus-1 have an increased risk of herpes simplex virus-2 seropositivity and herpes simplex virus reactivation at delivery. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty women infected with human immunodefic iency virus and 8408 other patients who were delivered at the Universi ty of Washington between 1989 and 1995 had herpes simplex virus serolo gic determinations at delivery. Genital herpes simplex virus cultures were obtained for 48 (80%) of the human immunodeficiency virus-infecte d women and 5567 (66%) of the controls. Logistic regression was used t o adjust for possible confounding factors. RESULTS: Forty-five (75%) o f human immunodeficiency virus-infected women and 2709 (32%) controls were seropositive for herpes simplex virus-2 (p < 0.0001). Eight perce nt of human immunodeficiency virus-infected women and 2% of controls h ad herpes simplex virus reactivation in labor (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: infection with herpes simplex virus-2 is common among pregnant women infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Herpes simplex virus react ivation complicates labor in this group more often than in other obste tric patients. The role of herpes simplex Virus in perinatal human imm unodeficiency Virus transmission warrants further study.