EFFECT OF
INTRAPARTUM ZIDOVUDINE UPON NEONATAL HIV PCR
Luesomboon
W
Queen Sawangwattana Memorial Hospital, Chonburi, Thailand
Objective: To study the effect of intrapartum
zidovudine (ZDV) on HIV PCR in neonates.
Methods: During July 1998 to September 2000, all
pregnant women who did not attend antenatal clinic were tested for
HIV-antibody during admission to labor room after consent. All HIV-antibody
positive women were offered to take 300 mg. of ZDV orally at once and every
3 hours until delivery. HIV PCR was performed among their newborns. A
retrospective study was reviewed.
Results: There were 58 HIV-antibody positive pregnant
women who gave birth to 58 newborns. Thirty-three mothers took ZDV but
another 25 did not. Five of 33 (15%) newborns in the first group were HIV
PCR positive, while 9 of 25 (36%) in the later group were HIV PCR positive.
The difference of positivity between both groups is statistical
significant.
Conclusion: The study suggested that immediate
intrapartum oral ZDV had effect upon HIV PCR in neonates. Thus it could
have the preventive effect upon vertical transmission and should be offered
to the pregnant women who did not take antiretroviral medication
antenatally.