MCQ Obstetrics Answer 28

The correct answer is C.

Studies have demonstrated that in the absence of maternal treatment with antiretroviral therapy or scheduled cesarean delivery, the rate of vertical transmission is approximately 25%. Thus, all pregnant women should be offered HIV testing to identify those patients who are infected so that they may receive antiretroviral therapy and be offered scheduled cesarean delivery to decrease the rate of vertical transmission.

2% (choice A) represents the approximate rate of vertical transmission in women who receive antiretroviral therapy during the pregnancy and a scheduled cesarean delivery (i.e., a cesarean delivery prior to the onset of labor or rupture of membranes.)

8% (choice B) represents the approximate rate of vertical transmission when women are treated with antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy and the neonate is treated postpartum. This rate was identified in the landmark study from the Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group 076 study. This study showed that antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum zidovudine (ZDV) use would reduce the vertical transmission rate from 25% to 8%.

50% (choice D) and 100% (choice E) are incorrect.

Category: Obstetrics MCQs