[Comparative study of the placenta from HIV+ mothers. Ultrastructural analysis]

Perinatal vertical transmission has increased in all the world; it is considered that at the present time there are about one million of children with HIV. Variation goes from 12 to 40%, at different countries. During the last years antiretroviral drugs as AZT, ddI and others have been used to diminish the virus passage via transplacentary. Eighteen placentaes from HIV seropositive women, three corresponded to first trimester, and 15 to the third trimester of gestation; in four cases they were treated with AZT in weeks fourteen (two patients), 26 and 35 of gestation; and one patient received AZT and ddI at week 28. Control group was with ten normal placentaes. Ultraestructural analysis and immuno-peroxidase and immuno-oro with antibody anti gp 41, were done. Ultraestructurally there were different localizations of HIV virus, at sincitiotrophoblast, decidual cells and umbilical vessels (six cases). In 13 cases there was hyperplasia and hypertrophy of macrophages containing a great amount of lysosomes. In one case, where a girl was seropositive many viriones HIV, were identified in macrophages. With immuno-oro viral proteins were seen in cytoplasm an plasmatic membrane, in endothelium of fetal capillars and trophoblast. With immunoperoxidase, four cases were positive. Placentaes with antiretroviral treatment since week 14, trophoblast was more dense by philaments increment. Placentaes with treatment during the third trimester, showed normal morphology with slight increase of philaments. In the cases treated with AZT and ddI, there were not macrophages hyperplasia and hypertrophy, nor viral particles. It is concluded that in seropositive mothers without treatment, the virus may be present in any part of chorionic villi, and in patients with treatment, virus is not identified, but a viral proteins synthesis.