MEDICAL UPDATE: High Risk of HIV Infection for First-Born Twins

MEDICAL UPDATE: High Risk of HIV Infection for First-Born Twins

Being Alive; March 1992
presented by Mark Katz MD and reported by Jim Stoecker

We know that approximately 30% of the babies born to HIV+ mothers become infected with the virus. We do not know, however, when the baby actually becomes infected. Now, a study of twins born to HIV+ women suggests that infection may occur at the time of birth from contact with the maternal blood and membranes.

This study, conducted in the US and published in Lancet, looked at some 100 sets of twins whose mothers were seropositive at the time of giving birth. All the babies were delivered vaginally. Researchers found that the rate of infection for first-born twins was over twice that for second-born. 50% of the first-born were seropositive, while only 19% of the second-born were found to be HIV+.

The researchers postulate that first-born twins tend to have more time in contact with the maternal membranes at the time of delivery than the second-borns do, and that this may account for the disparity in infection rates. It may be that HIV+ women should opt for caesarean delivery in an effort to protect their baby's health.
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