AIDS Archives - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(2):97-102
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000200003
PURPOSE: to correlate the type of cervical lesion diagnosed by Pap smear with CD4 cell counts and HIV-RNA viral load in HIV-positive patients. METHODS: one hundred and fifteen HIV patients were evaluated retrospectively in the present study, during the period from January 2002 to April 2003, at a university hospital. Eighty-three patients presented cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in Pap smear, in comparison with thirty-two with no lesions. Patients were divided into three groups, according to CD4 counts: CD4 more than 500 cells/mm³, between 200 and 500 cells/mm³, and less than 200 cells/mm³, and other three groups, according to HIV viral load: less than 10,000 HIV-RNA copies/mL, between 10,000 and 100,000 HIV-RNA copies/mL, or more than 100,000 HIV-RNA copies/mL. Correlation was investigated by the Fisher test. RESULTS: of the eighty-three patients with CIN, 73% presented CD4 counts less than 500 cells/mm³. In all CD4 groups, more than 50% of the patients presented CIN. According to the viral load, 71.7% of the patients with less than 10,000 HIV-RNA copies/mL presented CIN I, compared with 11.3% that showed CIN III. In the group with higher viral load (>100.000 HIV-RNA copies/mL), 61.5% showed CIN I and 30.8% presented CIN III. CONCLUSION: association between viral load and CIN was established (p=0.013), which was not observed with CD4 cell counts and CIN. Concomitant cervicovaginal infection was considered a potential confounding factor.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(2):97-102
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000200003
PURPOSE: to correlate the type of cervical lesion diagnosed by Pap smear with CD4 cell counts and HIV-RNA viral load in HIV-positive patients. METHODS: one hundred and fifteen HIV patients were evaluated retrospectively in the present study, during the period from January 2002 to April 2003, at a university hospital. Eighty-three patients presented cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in Pap smear, in comparison with thirty-two with no lesions. Patients were divided into three groups, according to CD4 counts: CD4 more than 500 cells/mm³, between 200 and 500 cells/mm³, and less than 200 cells/mm³, and other three groups, according to HIV viral load: less than 10,000 HIV-RNA copies/mL, between 10,000 and 100,000 HIV-RNA copies/mL, or more than 100,000 HIV-RNA copies/mL. Correlation was investigated by the Fisher test. RESULTS: of the eighty-three patients with CIN, 73% presented CD4 counts less than 500 cells/mm³. In all CD4 groups, more than 50% of the patients presented CIN. According to the viral load, 71.7% of the patients with less than 10,000 HIV-RNA copies/mL presented CIN I, compared with 11.3% that showed CIN III. In the group with higher viral load (>100.000 HIV-RNA copies/mL), 61.5% showed CIN I and 30.8% presented CIN III. CONCLUSION: association between viral load and CIN was established (p=0.013), which was not observed with CD4 cell counts and CIN. Concomitant cervicovaginal infection was considered a potential confounding factor.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2003;25(9):661-666
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032003000900007
PURPOSE: to present the most frequent gynecologic results in a cohort of 300 outpatient HIV-infected women. METHODS: this is a prospective and descriptive study of HIV-infected women that have been followed up at the gynecological clinic from November 1996 to December 2002. These patients were subjected to a specific protocol which included an interview, a gynecological evaluation and a collecting cervical sample for Pap smear, research of HPV (PCR) and colposcopy. Cervical biopsy was performed when necessary. Data were stored and analyzed by Epi-Info, version 6.0. RESULTS: the mean age was 34.5 years. The small number of sexual partners, average of three partners, and the predominance of heterosexual contagion should be mentioned: 271 (90.6%) patients were contaminated through sexual contact with their partners. There was a high prevalence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) representing 21.7% of the total group. Of 109 patients subjected to PCR, 89 (81.7%) were found to have some HPV genotype. An inflammatory smear was present in 69% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: there is a high frequency of CIN and genital infectious diseases among HIV-infected women, mainly HPV.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2003;25(9):661-666
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032003000900007
PURPOSE: to present the most frequent gynecologic results in a cohort of 300 outpatient HIV-infected women. METHODS: this is a prospective and descriptive study of HIV-infected women that have been followed up at the gynecological clinic from November 1996 to December 2002. These patients were subjected to a specific protocol which included an interview, a gynecological evaluation and a collecting cervical sample for Pap smear, research of HPV (PCR) and colposcopy. Cervical biopsy was performed when necessary. Data were stored and analyzed by Epi-Info, version 6.0. RESULTS: the mean age was 34.5 years. The small number of sexual partners, average of three partners, and the predominance of heterosexual contagion should be mentioned: 271 (90.6%) patients were contaminated through sexual contact with their partners. There was a high prevalence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) representing 21.7% of the total group. Of 109 patients subjected to PCR, 89 (81.7%) were found to have some HPV genotype. An inflammatory smear was present in 69% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: there is a high frequency of CIN and genital infectious diseases among HIV-infected women, mainly HPV.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2003;25(6):389-395
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032003000600002
PURPOSE: to evaluate acceptability, adhesion and experience with the use of female condom (FC) among HIV-infected women. METHODS: prospective descriptive study with 76 HIV-infected women under care at CAISM/UNICAMP and Centro Corsini, both in Campinas. After a screening interview and agreeing to participate, the volunteers received a diary to register their intercourses and correspondent use of male condom (MC). After 30 days, they returned to a training visit when the FC was inserted in a pelvic model, also bringing their diary related to the previous cycle, considered a control cycle. A structured questionnaire was used at 30, 60 and 90 days, also with the respective diary on sexual intercourse and use of MC and FC kept for posterior data entry. c², Fisher's exact, McNemar and Friedman tests were applied statistical analysis of paired samples. RESULTS: there was a predominance of young women, with low schooling, living with their partner. Rate of continuity was 52% after 90 days. The use of FC in half the intercourses for each time period remained stable over the 90-day interval. There was a significant reduction in unprotected intercourses (from 14 to 6%), without use of FC or MC, at the end of the period. The initial difficulties in handling the device were overcome. Serodiscordant couples had more protected intercourses than concordant couples, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. Women reporting consistent previous use of MC had more protected sex using FC. CONCLUSIONS: the offer of the female condom was able to reduce unprotected intercourses in HIV-infected women, which were highly motivated and receptive for the new method.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2003;25(6):389-395
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032003000600002
PURPOSE: to evaluate acceptability, adhesion and experience with the use of female condom (FC) among HIV-infected women. METHODS: prospective descriptive study with 76 HIV-infected women under care at CAISM/UNICAMP and Centro Corsini, both in Campinas. After a screening interview and agreeing to participate, the volunteers received a diary to register their intercourses and correspondent use of male condom (MC). After 30 days, they returned to a training visit when the FC was inserted in a pelvic model, also bringing their diary related to the previous cycle, considered a control cycle. A structured questionnaire was used at 30, 60 and 90 days, also with the respective diary on sexual intercourse and use of MC and FC kept for posterior data entry. c², Fisher's exact, McNemar and Friedman tests were applied statistical analysis of paired samples. RESULTS: there was a predominance of young women, with low schooling, living with their partner. Rate of continuity was 52% after 90 days. The use of FC in half the intercourses for each time period remained stable over the 90-day interval. There was a significant reduction in unprotected intercourses (from 14 to 6%), without use of FC or MC, at the end of the period. The initial difficulties in handling the device were overcome. Serodiscordant couples had more protected intercourses than concordant couples, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. Women reporting consistent previous use of MC had more protected sex using FC. CONCLUSIONS: the offer of the female condom was able to reduce unprotected intercourses in HIV-infected women, which were highly motivated and receptive for the new method.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2003;25(3):155-161
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032003000300003
PURPOSE: the morbidity in HIV-positive patients due to puerperal fever was studied and correlated to the method and duration of labor, the duration of premature rupture of the membranes, CD4+ cell count and the viral load (VL) at peridelivery. METHODS: a total of 207 HIV-positive women with prenatal examinations and deliveries between May 1997 and December 2001 were enrolled. Of these, 32 had natural childbirth and 175 had a cesarean section. Of the total of enrolled patients, 62.8% were submitted to elective cesarean section. The average age of the group was 27.4 years, and 25.6% were nulliparous and 26% were primiparous. At the moment of the delivery the average gestational age was 37.8 weeks. At the end of pregnancy the average of the CD4+ cell count was approximately 481 cells/mm³ and the viral load 49,100 copies/mL. RESULTS: puerperal morbidity occurred in 34 patients, with 33 after cesarean section and one after natural childbirth. The most usual intercurrent post-cesarean infection was that of the surgical wound (13% of the infection cases). Analyzed factors, such as delivery duration, duration of rupture of the membranes, number of CD4+ cells or the viral load at peridelivery, did not interfere in puerperal morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: puerperal morbidity was 16.8% and occurred more frequently after cesarean sections (18.9%) than after vaginal deliveries (3.1%). The other factors did not present a significant effect on puerperal morbidity.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2003;25(3):155-161
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032003000300003
PURPOSE: the morbidity in HIV-positive patients due to puerperal fever was studied and correlated to the method and duration of labor, the duration of premature rupture of the membranes, CD4+ cell count and the viral load (VL) at peridelivery. METHODS: a total of 207 HIV-positive women with prenatal examinations and deliveries between May 1997 and December 2001 were enrolled. Of these, 32 had natural childbirth and 175 had a cesarean section. Of the total of enrolled patients, 62.8% were submitted to elective cesarean section. The average age of the group was 27.4 years, and 25.6% were nulliparous and 26% were primiparous. At the moment of the delivery the average gestational age was 37.8 weeks. At the end of pregnancy the average of the CD4+ cell count was approximately 481 cells/mm³ and the viral load 49,100 copies/mL. RESULTS: puerperal morbidity occurred in 34 patients, with 33 after cesarean section and one after natural childbirth. The most usual intercurrent post-cesarean infection was that of the surgical wound (13% of the infection cases). Analyzed factors, such as delivery duration, duration of rupture of the membranes, number of CD4+ cells or the viral load at peridelivery, did not interfere in puerperal morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: puerperal morbidity was 16.8% and occurred more frequently after cesarean sections (18.9%) than after vaginal deliveries (3.1%). The other factors did not present a significant effect on puerperal morbidity.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2000;22(9):573-577
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032000000900006
Purpose: to verify the frequency of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) ¾ infected women. Methods: ninety-nine HIV-seropositive women were studied. The diagnosis of the HIV infection was established through two ELISA tests complemented by Western blot test or indirect immunofluorescence test. As control group, 104 women whose ELISA test was not positive were analyzed. The investigation of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was achieved by association of Pap smear and colposcopy in both groups. In the cases where colposcopy revealed existence of abnormal transformation zones, NIC diagnosis was obtained through colposcopy-guided biopsy complemented or not by conization. Results: cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was found in 15 of the 99 patients (15.2%), and among them there were ten NIC I, one NIC II and four NIC III. Among the 104 women of the control group, four presented cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (3.8%), one being NIC I and three NIC III. Conclusion: the comparative analysis of the results showed that the frequency of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was significantly higher among those patients infected with HIV.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2000;22(9):573-577
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032000000900006
Purpose: to verify the frequency of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) ¾ infected women. Methods: ninety-nine HIV-seropositive women were studied. The diagnosis of the HIV infection was established through two ELISA tests complemented by Western blot test or indirect immunofluorescence test. As control group, 104 women whose ELISA test was not positive were analyzed. The investigation of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was achieved by association of Pap smear and colposcopy in both groups. In the cases where colposcopy revealed existence of abnormal transformation zones, NIC diagnosis was obtained through colposcopy-guided biopsy complemented or not by conization. Results: cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was found in 15 of the 99 patients (15.2%), and among them there were ten NIC I, one NIC II and four NIC III. Among the 104 women of the control group, four presented cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (3.8%), one being NIC I and three NIC III. Conclusion: the comparative analysis of the results showed that the frequency of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was significantly higher among those patients infected with HIV.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2001;23(2):107-111
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032001000200008
Purpose: to evaluate the results of a rapid diagnostic test for HIV-1 infection made available by the Health Ministry for the identification of pregnant women contaminated by this virus. Methods: we evaluated prospectively 443 pregnant women with no prenatal serologic anti-HIV test seen at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, from February to June, 2000. Samples from these patients were submitted to the rapid immunochromatographic test, which was compared with ELISA and submitted to a confirmatory agglutination test. Results: among the 443 pregnant women submitted to the rapid test (20.1% of the deliveries performed during the study period), 16 showed positive results (3.6%). No sample with a negative result by the rapid test was positive by ELISA. However, of the 16 samples that were positive by the rapid test, two were negative by the confirmatory tests. Thus, the rapid test showed 100.0% sensitivity, 99.5% specificity, 87.5% positive predictive value, and 100.0% negative predictive value. Conclusions: the results obtained by evaluation of the test for a rapid diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in pregnant women revealed sensitivity, specificity and predictive values that qualify it as an extremely important resource for the indication of measures that will reduce perinatal transmission of this virus.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2001;23(2):107-111
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032001000200008
Purpose: to evaluate the results of a rapid diagnostic test for HIV-1 infection made available by the Health Ministry for the identification of pregnant women contaminated by this virus. Methods: we evaluated prospectively 443 pregnant women with no prenatal serologic anti-HIV test seen at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, from February to June, 2000. Samples from these patients were submitted to the rapid immunochromatographic test, which was compared with ELISA and submitted to a confirmatory agglutination test. Results: among the 443 pregnant women submitted to the rapid test (20.1% of the deliveries performed during the study period), 16 showed positive results (3.6%). No sample with a negative result by the rapid test was positive by ELISA. However, of the 16 samples that were positive by the rapid test, two were negative by the confirmatory tests. Thus, the rapid test showed 100.0% sensitivity, 99.5% specificity, 87.5% positive predictive value, and 100.0% negative predictive value. Conclusions: the results obtained by evaluation of the test for a rapid diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in pregnant women revealed sensitivity, specificity and predictive values that qualify it as an extremely important resource for the indication of measures that will reduce perinatal transmission of this virus.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2000;22(9):579-584
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032000000900007
Purpose: to evaluate the avoidable mortality among women in reproductive age, living in Campinas, SP, comparing two five-year periods: 1985-89 and 1990-94. Methods: death certificates of 3.086 women aged 10 to 49 years were studied, representing the total number of deaths during the period from January 1985 through December 1994. The criteria for avoidance were applied to these deaths using preventive, sanitary, early diagnosis and treatment, and mixed measures. The deaths were also classified as: with hardly avoidable causes, not well-defined causes and other causes. The specific mortality coefficient for each period of five years and the ratio between these coefficients were calculated. Results: there was a 20% increase in the avoidable mortality rate from the first to the second period. The main failure was observed among the group of avoidable causes by preventive and sanitary measures. The main increase in death causes by preventive measures resulted from AIDS. Among the causes of death avoidable by mixed measures, the increase of 50% in maternal mortality caused by abortion, as well as causes due to violence specially homicides, are emphasized. Conclusion: there was an increase in the proportion of avoidable death causes. Measures to prevent AIDS, abortion and to reduce violent deaths, specially homicides, should be political and social priorities in our Country.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2000;22(9):579-584
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032000000900007
Purpose: to evaluate the avoidable mortality among women in reproductive age, living in Campinas, SP, comparing two five-year periods: 1985-89 and 1990-94. Methods: death certificates of 3.086 women aged 10 to 49 years were studied, representing the total number of deaths during the period from January 1985 through December 1994. The criteria for avoidance were applied to these deaths using preventive, sanitary, early diagnosis and treatment, and mixed measures. The deaths were also classified as: with hardly avoidable causes, not well-defined causes and other causes. The specific mortality coefficient for each period of five years and the ratio between these coefficients were calculated. Results: there was a 20% increase in the avoidable mortality rate from the first to the second period. The main failure was observed among the group of avoidable causes by preventive and sanitary measures. The main increase in death causes by preventive measures resulted from AIDS. Among the causes of death avoidable by mixed measures, the increase of 50% in maternal mortality caused by abortion, as well as causes due to violence specially homicides, are emphasized. Conclusion: there was an increase in the proportion of avoidable death causes. Measures to prevent AIDS, abortion and to reduce violent deaths, specially homicides, should be political and social priorities in our Country.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2002;24(10):647-652
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002001000003
PURPOSE: to evaluate experimentally the effects of antiretroviral drugs used alone and in association upon the fertility of pregnant Wistar rats and the perinatal effects on the offspring. METHODS: adult female pregnant Wistar rats weighing 200-230 g were used. The antiretroviral drugs zidovudine (AZT), lamivudine (3TC) and nelfinavir (NFV) were used alone and in association at daily doses of ten times the dose normally used in pregnant women, proportionally to the animal's body weight. Seven groups were studied, including the control one. The experiment started on day 0 and the pregnant animals were sacrificed on day 21. The alive and dead fetuses, the total implantation sites and the total numbers of corporea lutea were used to calculate the fertility values. The statistical analysis was performed by Student's t test and by the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: there were no significant statistical differences regarding preimplantation loss and implantation efficiency values of the rats treated with isolated and associated antiretroviral drugs. There was a significant increase in the postimplantation loss values (control group: 7.6%; drug groups variation: 20.2-26.7%), a decrease in the fetal viability values (control group: 92.4%, drug groups variation: 73.3-79.8%), and a decreasing number of fetuses per animal (control group: 14.7; drug groups variation: 11.1-12.7). There was a significant weight reduction of the female rats and of the offspring of animals treated with 3TC, AZT + 3TC and AZT + 3TC + NFV. CONCLUSION: with the administration of high antiretroviral doses, important fertility effects could be observed, which showed that less histotoxic antiretroviral drugs must be studied in order to warrant the safety of using these medicines in pregnant HIV-1 - infected women.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2002;24(10):647-652
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002001000003
PURPOSE: to evaluate experimentally the effects of antiretroviral drugs used alone and in association upon the fertility of pregnant Wistar rats and the perinatal effects on the offspring. METHODS: adult female pregnant Wistar rats weighing 200-230 g were used. The antiretroviral drugs zidovudine (AZT), lamivudine (3TC) and nelfinavir (NFV) were used alone and in association at daily doses of ten times the dose normally used in pregnant women, proportionally to the animal's body weight. Seven groups were studied, including the control one. The experiment started on day 0 and the pregnant animals were sacrificed on day 21. The alive and dead fetuses, the total implantation sites and the total numbers of corporea lutea were used to calculate the fertility values. The statistical analysis was performed by Student's t test and by the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: there were no significant statistical differences regarding preimplantation loss and implantation efficiency values of the rats treated with isolated and associated antiretroviral drugs. There was a significant increase in the postimplantation loss values (control group: 7.6%; drug groups variation: 20.2-26.7%), a decrease in the fetal viability values (control group: 92.4%, drug groups variation: 73.3-79.8%), and a decreasing number of fetuses per animal (control group: 14.7; drug groups variation: 11.1-12.7). There was a significant weight reduction of the female rats and of the offspring of animals treated with 3TC, AZT + 3TC and AZT + 3TC + NFV. CONCLUSION: with the administration of high antiretroviral doses, important fertility effects could be observed, which showed that less histotoxic antiretroviral drugs must be studied in order to warrant the safety of using these medicines in pregnant HIV-1 - infected women.