Short-term outcomes of HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed preterm, very low birthweight neonates: a longitudinal, hospital-based study.

Objective: To compare short-term outcomes of very low birthweight (VBLW, <1500 g) neonates by maternal HIV status.

Design: Retrospective hospital-based cohort in Cape Town, South Africa.

Results: Of 1579 mothers, 316 (20%) were HIV-positive; 183/316 (58%) received ≥8 weeks of antenatal antiretrovirals.

Antiretrovirals causing severe pre-eclampsia.

Background: Extremely low birth weight infants (ELBW) (⩽1000g) at our tertiary hospital have a much higher HIV exposure rate than bigger babies and are mainly delivered due to complications of pre-eclampsia. Studies investigating the effect of HIV or antiretroviral therapy on pre-eclampsia, a partially immune-mediated disease have produced contradictory results.

Objective: To determine if there was an association between pre-eclampsia and HIV and/or antiretrovirals in the mothers of ELBW infants.