TITLE:
HIV Infection in Pregnancy and the Risk of Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia
AUTHORS:
Beatrice Landi, Valeria Bezzeccheri, Brunella Guerra, Mariangela Piemontese, Francesca Cervi, Lucia Cecchi, Eleonora Margarito, Stefano R. Giannubilo, Andrea Ciavattini, Andrea L. Tranquilli
KEYWORDS:
Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Preeclampsia, Gestational Hypertension, African Ethnic Group, Immune Tolerance
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases,
Vol.4 No.5,
May
20,
2014
ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between HIV infection and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, comparing the rates of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension in a HIV-infected pregnant group and in a HIV-negative control pregnant group matched for age and parity. Furthermore, we aimed to compare the rates of hypertensive disorders in a subgroup of HIV-positive and HIV-negative African-American Black women. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective observational cohort study conducted at two University Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Salesi Hospital, Ancona, and Sant’Orsola Hospital, Bologna. The HIV-infected patients’ group consisted of 126 pregnant women; 140 HIV-negative pregnant women matched for age and parity served as controls. Gestational hypertension and preeclampsia were diagnosed according to NHBPEP-ISSHP criteria. Categorical data were analyzed using the Fisher exact test. Statistical significance was set at a p value