A Study of Zidovudine in HIV-Infected Pregnant Women and Their Children

Inclusion Criteria Concurrent Medication: Allowed: In one group of four or more patients, methadone maintenance treatment. Acetaminophen for periods less than 72 hours. Supportive therapy including blood and blood products, vaginal creams, antiemetics, antidiarrheals, and cough medicines as deemed necessary by the responsible investigator. Iron, multivitamins, and short course of treatment for correctable medical problems, such as urinary tract infection. Concurrent Treatment: Allowed: Blood and blood products as supportive therapy. Patients must have HIV-1 infection and be in the third trimester of pregnancy. Additional patients will also be receiving methadone maintenance therapy for intravenous drug use. Exclusion Criteria Concurrent Medication: Excluded: Systemic medications during this pregnancy. Acetaminophen for periods more than 72 hours. Patients will be excluded from the study for the following reasons: Complications of pregnancy. History of poor medical compliance related to factors other than accessibility of care. Insistence on breast-feeding during the first 24 hours of the birth of the child. Evidence of preexisting fetal anomalies at = or > 20 weeks gestation as noted by an abnormal level 2 sonogram prior to study entry. Evidence of fetal intolerance of the intrauterine environment including intrauterine growth retardation, oligohydramnios, polyhydramnios, biophysical profile equal to or less than 6 for fetus with a gestational age > 32 weeks, congenital malformation, fetal hydrous or ascites. Previous systemic infection including influenza during this pregnancy. Malabsorption syndrome and/or history of frequent diarrhea that might interfere with absorption of oral zidovudine (AZT). Prior Medication: Excluded: Antivirals and other systemic medications during this pregnancy. Patients may not have any of the following diseases or symptoms: Obstetrical complications: Poor obstetrical history including but not limited to recurrent spontaneous abortions, previous preterm or low-birth-weight infant, congenital anomalies (past or present pregnancy), premature rupture of membranes, multiple gestation, intrauterine fetal death (this pregnancy), and placenta previa or abruptio (this pregnancy). Medical complications: Conditions including but not limited to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), hypertensive disorders which include preeclampsia, eclampsia, chronic hypertension, cardiovascular disease including rheumatic or congenital heart disease, collagen vascular disease, endocarditis, and renal disease. Hematologic complications. Neurologic complications. Pulmonary complications. History of illicit drug use during this pregnancy. Note: This exclusion applies only to the first six or more women to enter this study who do not have a history of intravenous drug use. Four or more patients: Intravenous drug use, if enrolled in a methadone maintenance program.