Transthoracic Echocardiographic Assessment of Haemodynamics in Severe Preeclampsia and HIV in South Africa

Abstract

(Anaesthesia. 2015, 70, 1028–1038) Preeclampsia and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are 2 serious global health problems for women. Although preeclampsia affects 6.5 million women each year, HIV infection affects 1.5 million pregnant women globally, with thousands of maternal deaths complicated by HIV infection. In South Africa, both are significant health problems. The objectives of this study were: to determine hemodynamics using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in women with preeclampsia, both untreated and treated; and to determine the differences, if any, in hemodynamics between healthy term pregnant women and term women with HIV, using TTE.

Ischemic stroke and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in pregnancy

“…After controlling for traditional vascular and sex-specific stroke risk factors, women living with HIV had a statistically significant hazard ratio of 1.89 (95% CI 1.28-2.81) compared to women without HIV (Chow et al, 2018). A study using transthoracic echocardiography in women with HIV at term found reduced left and right ventricular systolic function and increased ventricular dilation compared to HIVnegative controls in South Africa (Dennis et al, 2015). These data suggest that pregnant women with HIV may have increased risk of stroke, but more research is needed.…”