Document 0305
 DOCN  M9590305
 TI    HIV disease in women: the Australian experience to date. National
       Working Group on HIV Infection in Women.
 DT    9509
 AU    Thackway SV; Furner V; Kaldor J; National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and
       Clinical Research,; Darlinghurst.
 SO    Annu Conf Australas Soc HIV Med. 1994 Nov 3-6;6:200 (unnumbered
       abstract). Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ASHM6/95291794
 AB    OBJECTIVES: To provide a better understanding of the clinical
       manifestations of HIV disease in women in Australia. METHODOLOGY:
       Medical records of HIV positive women attending participating centres
       were reviewed and a six page data abstraction form completed. INTERIM
       RESULTS: To 31 March 1994, 803 women have been diagnosed with HIV
       infection in Australia. We reviewed 204 medical records from four
       states, representing 25% of all reported HIV diagnoses in women. HIV
       infection was attributed to: heterosexual contact (43%), injecting drug
       use (32%), medically acquired (19%) and other/undetermined (6%). The
       average CD4+ count at HIV diagnosis was 492 m/l and 24% percent were
       antigenaemic. AIDS was diagnosed in 65 cases (32%) and 98 (48%) were
       alive. PCP (31%) was the most common AIDS defining illness followed by
       oesophageal candidiasis (24%). In comparison, the rates of these
       diseases in men were 34% and 8%, respectively. Of those diagnosed with
       AIDS, 43 (66%) had an average of 3 ensuing AIDS-defining illnesses. The
       most common subsequent AIDS-defining disease was MAC (14%) followed by
       CMV (13%). Ninety one women (45%) became pregnant at least once after
       diagnosis of HIV and thirty three (16%) enrolled in HIV clinical trials.
       At diagnosis of HIV 6 women had chronic hepatitis B, and 7 had a
       positive IgG for hepatitis A. Out of 46 tested for Hepatitis C, 24 (52%)
       were antibody positive, 5 of whom did not report injecting drug use or
       receipt of blood transfusion. CONCLUSION: Preliminary analysis indicates
       that at diagnosis of HIV more than half will have a CD4+ count less than
       500. The most common AIDS defining illnesses are PCP and oesophageal
       candidiasis and the majority of women with AIDS will also contract an
       average of 3 ensuing AIDS-defining illness, most frequently MAC and CMV.
       A high rate of hepatitis infection in women with HIV infection was
       found.
 DE    Australia  AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/EPIDEMIOLOGY/PREVENTION
       &  CONTROL/TRANSMISSION  Blood Transfusion  CD4 Lymphocyte Count  Female
       Human  HIV Infections/EPIDEMIOLOGY/PREVENTION & CONTROL/*TRANSMISSION
       Male  Risk Factors  Sex Behavior  Sex Factors  Substance Abuse,
       Intravenous/COMPLICATIONS/EPIDEMIOLOGY  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).