[Release: NIAID to Evaluate Safety of Giving AZT to Pregnant Women] Page: 3 of 6
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"The prognosis for children with HIV is grim," said Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, MAID
Director. "They usually develop disease more quickly than adults do. Of those diagnosed
before their first birthday, half die within six months of diagnosis. It is impossible to count
the costs in pain and heartbreak, and the social and economic burden of caring for these
children is staggering. This study is vitally important in our effort to find ways to reduce
the chances of transmission from mother to baby."
Little is known about the timing, mechanisms, or rate of HIV transmission from mother
to baby. Present knowledge indicates that transmission may occur by one of three
mechanisms: transplacentally in the uterus, at birth through contact with or ingestion of
maternal blood, or infrequently from breast milk. The likelihood of transmission from an
infected mother is estimated at between 25 and 40 percent.
The majority of infants with HIV infection are born to women who are either
intravenous drug users or sexual partners of intravenous drug users. Thus one part of the
study will address the question of whether AZT can be safely given to HIV-positive,
asymptomatic pregnant women who have a history of previous intravenous drug use and are
on methadone maintenance. Methadone is a medically approved drug that is widely used in
drug rehabilitation.
The researchers will first enroll six women who have no history of recent drug abuse
and are not being maintained on methadone. After those six have completed their course of
treatment and delivered their babies, the investigators will enroll four HIV-infected pregnant
women with a known history of IV drug abuse who are currently receiving methadone
maintenance therapy.
All of the women will begin receiving AZT during their third trimester of pregnancy.
They will receive a single intravenous dose of the drug, followed by oral AZT (200 mg.
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National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. [Release: NIAID to Evaluate Safety of Giving AZT to Pregnant Women], text, July 10, 1989; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc915767/m1/3/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.