HIV & THE FETUS Introduction This research pa

The epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has spread from the homosexual population to the heterosexual populations which includes pregnant women and their infants. A 1993 survey demonstrated that over three of every thousand women tested HIV positive at public health clinics. It is projected that by the year 2000, over 40 million people will be HIV-infected and most of these will be women and children. Surveys measuring the prevalence of HIV infection in pregnant women show results ranging from 0.2 in 1,000 to 22 in 1,000. Perinatal transmission of HIV is currently the leading cause of HIV infection in children (Craven, Steger, & Jarek, 1994, pp. 36-37; & Katz & Lim, 1995, p. 102).

HIV is a RNA retrovirus. It infects cells and may then induce the production of new HIV virus or it can lie dormant in the infected cell. HIV commonly infects the T-helper (T4) lymphocyte, a cell that is essential for immunocompetence. Destruction of these cells results in impaired immune function and infections with organisms such as pneumocystis and cryptococcus found in advanced HIV infections (AIDS). HIV infects macrophages as well, which carries the virus throughout the

. . .
had fetal loss more often with HIV transmission than asymptomatic mothers. Thymic dysfunction was also demonstrated; these findings support research that has shown thymic abnormalities, including changes in the lymphoid and epithelial cell components of the thymus, in fetuses and neonates born to HIV-seropositive mothers. The cause of fetal demise is unknown, however the effects of thymic injury and altered cytokine production may result in an unfavorable uterine, endometrial, or decidual environment for pregnancy to continue (pp. 1451-1458). Infants born to HIV-infected women who are not infected, test HIV antibody positive because of transplcentally acquired maternal IgG. These children usually serorevert to antibody negative by six to 18 months of age. Early diagnosis is important for optimal treatment. Children who develop AIDS by the age of five, usually show signs by five months of age (rapid progressors). AIDS symptoms include PCP (Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia), failure to thrive, hepatitis, diarrhea, and neurocognitive deterioration. Perinatal events such as mode of delivery, birth wight, gestational age, and maternal immunologic or clinical characteristics, are not associated with disease progression for infect
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Zelewsky Birchfield, Katz Lim, Ou Nahmias, Mothers AIDS, Pregnant HIV-infected, Care HIV, Transmission HIV, PCP Pneumocystis, Zidovudine ZDV, Infection Pregnancy, hiv infection, hiv transmission, transmission hiv, katz lim, perinatal transmission, risk factors, craven steger, craven steger jarek, perinatal transmission hiv, steger jarek, human immunodeficiency virus, human immunodeficiency, immunodeficiency virus, clinics north america, katz lim pp,
Approximate Word count = 2696
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page)