Twenty-year experience in the management of pregnant women infected by HIV/AIDS at the Instituto Nacional de Perinatologia (National Institute of Perinatology) in Mexico City

Background: We undertook this study to review international recommendations and report the experience from the Instituto Nacional de Perinatologia Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes (INPerIER) in the management of pregnant women with HIV/AIDS. Methods: We reviewed medical records of 200 pregnant women with HIV/AIDS receiving care at INPerIER from 1988-2008 with specific focus on different scenarios of pregnant HIV/AIDS patients and different modes of antiretroviral prophylaxis. Treatment advances are also presented. Results: The impact of diverse worldwide strategies can serve to decrease perinatal transmission of HIV. We report our experience at INPerIER in demonstrating a decrease in the rate of vertical transmission between 1988 and 1998 to 0%. Conclusions: Early medical interventions with antiretroviral therapy has allowed us to reduce vertical transmission in pregnant women with HIV/AIDS to <2% over a 20-year period and to 0% since 1998.